Dec. 29, 2004

Re: the Photocircuits layoffs. Please don’t minimize the effects the layoffs will have on the “ordinary folk” who just happen to live in Fayette County. Living in PTC does not automatically make one a wealthy individual. OK, so we’re not talking Delta employees, but these folks will be devastated just the same. There are many Photocircuits employees who live in PTC and Fayetteville who are not management, as your article implies. They are regular folks who depended on this income, as paltry as it is, and by the way, machine operators make less than half of your quoted $35K median salary per year. So why the state Labor Board is going to concentrate on getting help for those in the far-flung counties first is beyond me. Please concentrate on all the employees getting a fair deal and chance.

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Re: the unhappy parent who has been in the newspaper for the last few weeks, or should I say month. I hope her son practices and learns to catch the football before the next season if he is going to play. Coach Webb shouldn’t have to please parents by putting players into the game if they can’t play. Everyone who tried out made the team since many former football players left FCHS to attend other county schools in their zones. The girl on the team is great and can really play football! Stop whining, mom, and set an example by teaching your son that in life you can’t always have your way.

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Is there any truth to the rumor that the Department of Transportation and the Atlanta Regional Commission are considering cancellation or delay in the funding for the widening of Ga. Highway 74 South in Peachtree City due to that city’s inability or unwillingness to complete the TDK extension
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The Great Georgia Air Show is doomed in Peachtree City. All the charities, service organizations, vendors, motels, hotels, restaurants and gas stations can say goodbye to the best air show in Georgia. Why would this show that last year resulted in over $30,000 going to service organizations and charitable groups come to an end? Greed and politics. Why should the police and fire departments be the largest recipients of revenues from the air show for so little input? The air show cannot pay the police and fire departments over $18,000 for services they do not need and stay in business
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Thanks a lot, Tyrone Town Council. Everyone I’ve spoken with was eagerly anticipating the new Waffle House and you managed to run them off. Surely you could have reached a compromise.
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I enjoy reading the articles and commentaries in The Citizen paper on a weekly basis. As I was looking through the Dec. 22nd edition I was reading the column on Page A4, “Most decisively, have a Merry Christmas.” On page A6, “Will the U.S. lose its Christian heritage.” Then I noticed it. There it was on the front page. “Churches schedule Christmas services.” An alphabetical listing of church activities that will probably be celebrating the birth of Christ. What I noticed was The Citizen doing what so many other businesses are doing. Doing what was written in other articles in the same paper. At the bottom it reads, “See XMAS, A12.” What a bonehead move on your part to list church activities at Christmas and have a continuation of those listings titled “XMAS.” This removal of Christ’s name in reference to Christmas activities at churches is very poor judgment. What were you thinking?
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Enjoyed your article. Since the government does not see fit to celebrate Christmas, then the holiday should be discontinued. And all those federal employees should go to work. That might cut back on more pay without work. Merry Christmas.

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Dec. 25 is known as Noel in French, navidad or pascua in Spanish, and Weihnachten in German. The idea of putting Christ back into Christmas sounds good at first, but harping on it may signal one’s abysmal ignorance of other languages and cultures. Let’s not overdo it.

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Thank you, Linda Wells, for standing up to Chairman Greg Dunn! People are finally beginning to question Dunn’s rude behavior. Dunn’s stubborn legacy has been pretty clear in the newspapers over the years by suing Tyrone, suing Fayetteville, harassing our wonderful Sheriff Johnson and beating up on Peachtree City. The only thing that Dunn has left is to declare martial law over tiny Brooks. I saw first-hand in Texas what happens when you build thousands of homes on septic tanks and they begin to fail. Dunn actually brags about forcing new home construction on septic tanks and his fouled-up policy will end up costing us hundreds of millions of dollars to resolve in the years to come. He is one of the most environmentally challenged people on the planet. It comes as no surprise to any of us why the rest of the Atlanta leaders would not elect him as chairman of their organization.

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Those people who have been supporting the idea of Santa as Christianity’s enemy are the worst kinds of Grinches: Christian ones. This is a magical season in more ways than one, Jesus and Santa can coexist. Don’t take the magic away from your children. Santa may give them more hope and joy than some guy they hear about in church but can’t quite understand yet. Consider Santa training wheels for belief. They believe in something as trivial as Santa now so they can believe in something greater, later.

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To the person who saw a woman in a green minivan pull up in front of his house and take a picture: The same woman was in front of my house over the summer. She takes the picture so she can draw a picture of your house. This picture can be framed, and it can also be put on note-cards. She does a fabulous job and you will love it. Someone probably hired her to do this for you as a gift. Don’t worry.

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If the taxpayers are going to have to pay for a new senior center building, don’t forget and help pay to have a homeless shelter for males and females to be constructed in Fayette County. The old Kmart building in Fayetteville would make a great Salvation Army Homeless Shelter when they have no other place to go and can’t afford to pay rent. Stand up for all people in Fayette county, the poor and not just rich seniors.

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New Year’s political prediction: First, of all, thanks to your paper. We retired here a few years ago from a south Georgia town for the golf and the grandkids. We enjoy your paper. One of the first things I was reading was when my daughter downloaded that special counsel report. If the developers don’t get their money on the PTC development authority shenanigans from the courts, they will go in the city elections and get three councilmen elected that will vote to pay them the money they want. Even though most judges ain’t gonna buck the developers (especially our Hollywood judge) do they even have enough time to get it done before election day? My prediction is that the money owed is going to be the biggest issue in the elections.
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I don’t think the city has a “moral obligation” to fix a lack [caused by] the mismanagement of the Development Authority. All the debt allowed by Peachtree National bank was accumulated operating losses over a period of 10 years and is illegal. The DAPC “business model” was to borrow money when they ran out: Hello. Common folks like me call it stupid and it is illegal in the state of Georgia. Your comparison that the DAPC and PCTA are the same is just stupid. The tourism guys in “eight months” have both of the facilities operating in the black. The DAPC had over 10 years and couldn’t get it done or didn’t want to get it done. The PCTA has self-sustaining venues, use no hotel/motel tax to supplement either of them, ended the year with money in the bank and is paying for $200,000 of tourism events that taxpayers, that’s you and me, used to have to pay. We owe the PCTA guys a big thank you. Obviously the DAPC are your friends but face the facts the PCTA folks put these venues back on the railroad tracks.
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I always knew the Kristi Rapson lawsuit had merit. Why else would every DAPC member leave the state, resign in disgrace and leave millions of dollars unpaid. It’s very interesting that the same federal judge, Judge Jack T. Camp, who said it didn’t have enough merit in go to court would later say that Rapson’s claims “were not frivolous, unreasonable or without foundation,” and that the “Defendant, the prevailing party in this case, has a difficult bar to clear in order to show the complete lack of foundation in plaintiff’s claims necessary for an award of attorney fees.” “Defendant has not cleared that bar,” and noted that attorneys fees in similar cases were awarded when plaintiffs introduced virtually no evidence to support their claims. That was not the case in Rapson’s suit, Camp wrote. Wonder why the DAPC attorney is asking for her to pay them $210,000? If you guessed it’s because the DAPC didn’t pay them either then you’d be correct. I was sad to read that her lawsuit had ended friendships. I commend you, Kristi, for having the courage to do the right thing. True friends should come back given the circumstances. I’ll pray for you and your family.

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Somebody with our local Pike County Citizens’ group sent me that story on Judge Edwards and your lawsuit to stop closed meetings. Judge Edwards did the same thing to our county commission. The commission chairman got voted out. Goodbye and go home. Glad there is some paper around here that keeps these folks straight. And Judge Edwards, too. Could you start a paper down here in Zebulon?

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The two responses regarding the TDK road into Coweta County were very telling. At least Mayor Brown had a rational response as to why he was not willing to continue funding the road. If Brown was correct and Fayette County really said that only 3,700 cars will be using the new road in the year 2025, then who is benefiting from the road? If there will only be 3,700 cars a day, then why is the Fayette County government interested in funding the road? Bob Lenox said that the road is “vital” but the county numbers don’t agree. Why won’t the Coweta County government say what is going to develop on their side of the road? This thing is turning into “the road of unanswered questions.”

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I find it extraordinary that our state Department of Education now defines an “A” (otherwise known as excellent) as a score on state-mandated tests, which ranges from 59 percent to 77 percent. Since when is what used to be unsatisfactory now considered excellent? Would one consult a doctor who can correctly diagnose illnesses 59 percent of the time or an accountant who can correctly balance books 59 percent of the time or an engineer whcan build a bridge correctly only 59 percent of the time? I sincerely doubt it. What is wrong with Georgia’s educational system is as clear as the noses on most peoples’ faces: Our leaders have led us to believe that mediocrity is, in fact, excellence, which sounds good until one begins to compare what Georgia’s public schoolers can do with the rest of the nation. Or, for that matter, with the rest of the world. While we applaud our leaders for their ingenuity in redefining what it means to be well-educated, we overlook the fact that high-paying jobs are flowing overseas while the gap between “haves” and “have nots” continues to widen. This is happening because American businesses can no longer afford to spend billions to teach workers skills that they ought to already possess when they are hired. Georgia’s new definition of excellence is a workforce that knows a mere 59 percent of what has been taught.
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We can be at Florida beaches in four hours, the mountains in two hours, West Point lake in one hour, Allatoona in about a half-hour, FDR park, Callaway Gardens, High Falls, Spruill Bluff, or Stone Mountain in about an hour. We can go to Atlanta and take in a Braves or Falcon game and still be home at bedtime. We can buy clothes at Smith-Davis, BBQ at Melears, and the best prime rib anywhere at Frank’s. We can be at the airport in less than half an hour. Where else could anyone have half as much available so conveniently? We’ve got in made here in Fayette County.

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I understand that a lot of you are jealous of how much money pilots can make. I also know that many of you men out there dreamed of being pilots yourselves and had to settle for something easier, more stable and maybe are bitter about this. I am a furloughed Delta pilot’s wife. I am not pampered and don’t want to be. I’m working and shop at Wal-Mart just like most people, even before he was furloughed. I have never bought any expensive designer clothes. Those of you who think these things are ignorant. The truth is my husband made very low pay his first year there. You have to have a college degree, all of your pilot’s ratings and years of flight experience before you become a Delta pilot. Then, when you do get hired, you make a salary lower than teacher’s the first year. I know, I know, you guys thought that the pilots who were furloughed were making the 300K, but the ones who were furloughed were the ones just hired and earning much less than they are worth. Just like most of you! What do I have to say to all of you who have made ugly comments about this? I am so glad that my husband had the courage to pursue his dreams and not sell out. He can look back, despite the furlough and public misconceptions and still say, “I’m doing in life exactly what I always wanted to do.” Most of us can’t say that — Proud pilot’s wife.

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Those of us who have criticized the Peachtree City police are doing so for the benefit of the whole community. We have already seen the damage to our families and neighbors. The reason we are speaking out is so that change will come before others are hurt. I have spoken with police and sheriffs in neighboring communities, and this police department is held in contempt because of the damage they do to the reputation of law enforcement.

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Yes, I did have a run-in with the Peachtree City PD. I made a foolish decision and I got caught. I paid my debt to society and apologize for my lapse in judgment. However, I will never get over the way it was handled by the police officers, the solicitor general and the judge involved. The judge did not hold a fair and public trial but instead decided my fate behind closed doors. This newspaper has been criticized for not getting their facts straight when reporting a crime. It defends itself by stating that they gather their information from “official police reports.” Well, therein lies the problem. The official police reports are often exaggerated and embellished. The saddest part of all is that Chief Murray doesn’t do anything about it.

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No news is no good news

Epistle to the editor:

I’m having NASCAR withdrawal following a great season of racing. It’s too bad that nothing is going on that’s very exciting in the Peachy City to help take my mind off of racing.

The City Council of Peachy City ended up whipping the Target people into shape, so no dramatic finish there. The nicotine addicts have refused to march on the City Hall. Developers just keep cutting the trees down along Highway 74 in T-Town. The new building going up near Dogwood Road is practically on top of the highway. It’s like they only have a three-foot setback and mandatory tree removal.

There were a couple of brief sparks, though. The first was when Linda “Bottom Of The” Wells verbally backhanded Chairman Greg “Emperor” Dunn in the kisser at the last County Commission meeting.

That is definitely another notch on the Spank the Emperor tally board for the folks over at the City Cafe.

The second spark was the lukewarm fuss over the TDK Speedway Extension. The Peachy Three, maybe Four, maybe Five, elbowed Chairman Greg “Emperor” Dunn in the jaw for having all the SPLOST money and whining about having to use some of it for the TDK Speedway.

Mayor “Cheery” Brown and Councilman Murray “Smoking” Weed were saying, “No, no, no,” while Stuart “Difficult Last Name” K. said, “I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know.”

Meanwhile, Councilwoman Judi “Hyphenated” Rutherford’s picture will be placed on milk cartons at local grocery stores because she has been missing for months. She is constantly cited in the newspapers as not returning their calls.

The people over at the fancy shoe place on Highway 54 suggested that the police go look over at the Gathering Place because the local senior villagers probably stuffed and mounted her head over the entrance.

The neighbors around the Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church haven’t chained themselves to the church’s ornate stone sign complete with the optional water feature. The neighbors aren’t even launching any protest banners that read, “We don’t worship here but we like bossing them around!”

Where are “Cheery” Brown and his band of Westside Villagers with the annexation request?

I mean, nothing but boring newspapers with cookie recipes. I lined our bird cage with last week’s Citizen and my parakeet Freddy had trouble staying awake.

Not a creature is stirring, not even Bob “I Own This City” Lenox. It’s so slow that Fred “Developer’s Buddy” Brown breaking 160 over at Flat Creek might make the front page!

To make matters worse, my NEXTEL Cup 2004 race review video hasn’t arrived because the UPS system is bogged down with Christmas packages.

I hope that something exciting happens soon or the newspapers will have to start making up things to write. Merry Christmas!

Yours truly,

Buster
The Bard of Braelin

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Dec. 22, 2004

Before there was Brown vs. Lenox, before Brown vs. Wal-Mart, before Brown vs. Development Authority, before Brown vs. the Tennis Center, before Brown vs. Dunn, etc, etc., there was Brown vs. Photocircuits. Yes, the letter-writing campaign that launched a political career! Five-and-a-half years later and Steve Brown’s wishes have finally come true. Mr. Brown should sleep better knowing that all those horrible chemicals will now reside in China (along with 500-plus Peachtree City jobs).

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I have been reading a lot of opinions about the Delta pilots having to take a 30 percent pay cut. I feel for any one that has to take any kind of pay cut, but let’s look at it from another side. You should thank God that you still at least have a job. Why? Consider this. I have worked for the same company for over 11 years. In the past five years no raises. In the past two years three different times we have had to take a 10 percent pay cut. Then in August of this year we find out that one of the company’s locations will be closing. Now a week from a time that is supposed to be a joyful time we find out it is our location that will be closing. We were told Friday. I am not putting the company name or my name for one very good reason. I want to try and not let my wife and my family find out at least until after Christmas and then I will tell them what is going on. Hopefully this is at least one thing I can do for my family so that their Christmas will not be ruined. I am just thinking about my family. I am not doing this for any one to feel sorry for my family or me. I don’t want it and I won’t accept it. I guess you could say that all I want for Christmas is for my family to have a worry-free and joyful Christmas. It’s not going to be easy, but I am at least thankful that I have my family and some how or way we will survive this with our love for each other. To all my coworkers, I wish you the best and may God bless you and your families as we all must go forward.

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Each week there seems to be some kind of vitriolic vent about the PTC police department. Most in this city recognize our department as a highly trained and professional group and appreciate their contributions in maintaining a safe city which others envy. All is okay until either the writer or their pampered child violates the law and suddenly it becomes the fault of our police department. I have spoken with members of other police departments and they have only respect for the PTC department and the safe environment which has resulted from their strict adherence to the law. Maybe those who want to now pick on the police would find their time better spent in raising their children to abide by the law and themselves by learning vehicular laws. I am a proud parent of a Peachtree City policeman.

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The tone of public debate in America has grown shameful. The latest example locally is the unjustified criticism of the Peachtree City police. All of Fayette County’s law enforcement is basically good and basically diligent. I retired in Fayette after a career in law enforcement and forensics. Constructive criticism of any public official is proper. But to call the Peachtree City police “Nazi Gestapo” is horrendous. I support the PTC police and the sheriff (and Fayetteville and Tyrone). For you underpaid officers and deputies, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We appreciate your many untold sacrifices.

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The Peachtree City police have taken public safety to the highest level of absurdity. While we sit in bumper to bumper traffic on Ga. Highway 54, they make no effort to direct traffic despite an abundance of officers and communication devices. They do chose to enforce the seat belt law should some wayward driver remove it momentarily to reach for a cell phone to tell their family they will be late. I bet they are afraid that we will be ejected from the vehicle in a two-mile-an-hour crash.

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To the people complaining about the police in PTC or Fayetteville or Tyrone or the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, you need to get a grip on life. You should be thankful that we have a safe city and county to live in. I dare to say that most complaints are from the ones that have had run-ins with the departments due to their “babies” not being the little darlings they think they are.

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I am so sick of people complaining about the PTC police. One day it’s, “My poor kids are being harassed.” The next day it’s, “I was entrapped.” What’s really funny is that when your house is burglarized or your car is broken into by the “harassed teens,” you expect instant justice and speedy punishment. But, there’s a problem, and investigative roadblocks in the form of overprotective, enabling parents cause most of the problem. If PTC had better parents, we would not have so many problems with cars being broken into or mailboxes being smashed. And, as we all know, it’s the few bad parents that unfairly give a bad name to the good teens in this town (and we have more of them than most). Only a knuckle-dragging Neanderthal would actually wish for more of a crime problem so that their teens would be less harassed. Look to yourselves. Cops don’t force your kids to speed, steal, damage, and lie. Parents that have kids in trouble with the law need to evaluate things at home. All too often we bash the police because we don’t want to take responsibility for our own actions. I for one thank them for the great job they do in keeping us safe from the type of crime that we read about in Clayton County. Let’s all thank them next time we see them and not just next time something goes bump in the night.

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My family recently moved to Peachtree City and I felt a comment on your police department was merited. We have two teenagers and of course their friends, who refer to your local police as “The Gestapo.” It seems that many teenagers we have talked to, say they are constantly hassled by the PTPD. At first we thought it was just kids talk but after further investigation, it seems they may have an argument. This police force charges more juveniles by far, with more infractions, than any other force in their size category. The relationship they have with these kids is terrible and getting worse by the day. They seem to make little or no effort to work with these teenagers and simply keep piling on ridiculous charges. Two boys start arguing and they charge them with “uttering terrorist threats.” A 13-year-old boy punches another boy at school and they charge him with assault, even though neither of the parents wanted to pursue charges. Heck, if every kid that punched me in high school was charged with assault we would have to rent a hall to process them.

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To the two ungrateful souls who criticized our police department in the Dec. 15 issue: Obviously, not only are you ignorant of the law, you can’t even appreciate the fact that you have a police force consisting of educated young men and women who treat everyone the same. Yes, they may make mistakes; we all do at some point in life. However, thanks to their selfless, unappreciated dedication to their careers, Peachtree City ranks number 17 of the top 200 cities to live in (in the under 100,000 population category in Money magazine). Maybe you should leave PTC and live in Bowen or Capital Homes in Atlanta where the officers can’t get to a call unless they are dodging bullets. Meanwhile your vehicle is being stolen in front of your eyes and your porch is utilized as a meeting place for drug transactions. As for Jimmy Carter’s grandson, if it were your home he had allegedly broken into to steal something (regardless of how petty the item), I’m sure you would’ve been less than thrilled if the department failed to follow up and arrest him (regardless of who he is related to).

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I wish that the people that live in Peachtree City would show more respect for our police department. This city has grown so fast. The police have more responsibilities and maybe not enough manpower to handle them. I think that they are doing their best to protect and serve this city of non-appreciative residents. The city should definitely hire more officers and firefighters because we are going to need them. Stop complaining and start supporting!

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We desire that the Bard persist with his motivating appeals for truth, justice and the banning of karaoke! Glenda from Glenloch and Katie of Kedron concur that the “little grubbers” need to heed the knowledge and understanding of the Bard. Ester in the Estates and Wilma from Wynnmeade submit that we should not have to yield to the Emperor Dunn. Resist the urge to withdraw, dearest Bard. Lucy the Lutheran agrees with the Bard that the selection of hygiene products is better at Walgreens. Please don’t let Bob “I Own This City” Lenox smother you like flies on a jackass! You are our knight against oppression (and boredom). There really is no other reason to digest the newspaper but you, Bard.

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Nice try, “Bard,” but the poem wasn’t by Bob Lenox. I wrote it. Keep trying. Speaking of rhyming, your “Dog Park” song was about as interesting as any of your other [stuff] that you spout off about. And just out of curiosity, why do you care about Mayor Brown’s waist line? Got a thing for him?

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Thank you so much for running this article [about abstinence]. When it comes to smoking, drinking, drug abuse, and obesity we as adults don’t hesitate to teach our children that these behaviors are harmful and put them at risk. Why is teen sexual involvement different? Would we tell our kids that we know they will try drugs eventually so try a little marijuana since it’s not as addictive? Come on. One in four sexually active people currently have a sexually transmitted disease, up from 1 in 47 only 20 years ago. We face over 25 STDs compared with 2 in the ‘60s and ‘70s. What has been taught in our schools in the past 20 years? Comprehensive sex ed. You tell me where the proof is that comprehensive sex ed is working. What condom can protect the heart? For that matter, what condom can protect from any STD?

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My son really enjoyed the firetrucks and Santa coming through our neighborhood today. However, they need to make sure that all the children get some candy. My son is only 2 1/2 and the bigger kids got all the candy. And they didn’t even bring out any canned goods. Fortunately, we have more Christmas candy than the man in the moon, so my son didn’t really care. Plus he got to see Santa! __________________________________________________________________

Dec. 15, 2004

I went to Newnan last week even though I knew I had to brave the stretch of road from Ga. Highway 74 intersection with Hwy. 54 on to the Coweta County line to get there. We spent about 60 minutes in Newnan and then tried to return to Peachtree City at about 2 p.m. The round-trip took two and one-half hours at a non-rush hour time. The stopped traffic on Hwy. 54 returning to PTC was backed up to the Coweta County line. There was no construction going on that day, as it had rained, I guess. If those wonderful “planned city” people are still around, I hope they are out of power. They will really screw up the new accesses from TDK and out of Centennial to Hwy. 74, unless of course they own some of that land.
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Help me settle an argument. Are three cars allowed to run the red light at McDuff Parkway as they do at Wal-Mart or is it two like at Ga. Highway 74?
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Congratulations to The Citizen for its success with its Open Meetings Act lawsuit against Peachtree City, including the recovery of its attorney’s fees! That may, for a time, mute the editor’s propensity to hop on the bandwagon about frivolous lawsuits and activist judges.
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I would like to direct this message to the guy who will not lie to his children when it comes to Santa. Give me a break! Christmas is a magical time for children. It’s probably the best time of year when it comes to being a child. I know it was for me when I was young. I understand that there are certain religions that do not celebrate Christmas. But, don’t tell me that you won’t tell your kids that because you won’t lie to them. Your kid will be that bully at school that goes around telling all of the other kids that there is no Santa. And why? Because his dad said so? Why don’t you let your children have a little fun. And it’s not lying. It called imagination.
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What a mistake it would be to fire Tommy Webb. Sure winning is great and loads of fun but there are many more lessons to learn about life. Coach Webb is a great man and role model for everyone. Coaches and students that work hard and survive 1-9 seasons have learned many valuable lessons about life and surviving in the real world. I was glad to read that Coach Webb has ample support and hopefully everyone will work together and may soon enjoy a winning season. If not we are all still better off having Tommy Webb at FCHS.
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To the parent who cried and complained about getting Coach Webb of FCHS fired: You have been forced to get along and try to work with the coach (and booster club) since your business is out. People are smarter than you think and can read between the lines. You are upset that your son was not afforded an opportunity to play ball for fear that this will prevent him from getting a football scholarship to attend college. You’d better face it, girl; it’s over. Not only do you have to pick up your face due to embarrassment, but your complaints have caused the entire Fayette County to know that your son is not in the school’s district, you just got custody since your mother was the legal guardian, and that your son is in 10th grade. Just remember that when you dig one ditch, you must dig two. You can see the grave you dug was your own. You’ve been given enough rope, and you hung yourself.
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Our Bard who lives in Braelinn,

Stick it to the man!

Let Lenox scream,

We all know he’s mean!

When Emperor Dunn begins to cry,

Stick it right back in his eye!

If the PAC should make us sick,

Give their butts a big old kick!

Stick it to the man, Bard,

Stick it to the man!
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I liked this story by J. Frank Lynch. It was very interesting to read about how Fayette has changed from a bird’s-eye view. I agree about Medical Center getting really big. Let’s just hope they give careful thought to parking spaces. Hospitals never seem to have enough for some reason.
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Can someone please explain what that is on the signs of the new Summit Point shopping center? Is it a peach? A pecan?
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President Jimmy Carter and family will soon find out what many in Peachtree City already know. Our police department does not understand basic constitutional rights and they are supported by a police chief who will defend them even if they make glaring mistakes.
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Can we stop picking on the pilots and move onto the Peachtree City police? In any other jurisdiction, it is the solicitor’s job to decide whether or not to drop a charge. Not so in Peachtree City. Forget what the legal expert thinks, it’s up to the 22-year-old cop. What is trespassing in any other jurisdiction is burglary in Peachtree City. What is normal driving fluctuation within your lane of travel in any other state is weaving severally in Peachtree City. What is entrapment in any other city or state is good police work in Chief Murray’s kingdom. Asserting your rights is asserting your rights in any other jurisdiction. In Peachtree City, it’s called obstruction of justice.
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About 2:30 p.m. December 8, a woman in a green minivan pulled up in front of my house on Hickory Avenue and took pictures. When I walked outside to ask her why she needed the picture, she ignored me while she turned around in my driveway. I know taking pictures of the homes of strangers isn’t illegal, but it’s certainly odd. We don’t have any Christmas decorations outside except a wreath on the door, so it wasn’t that. Would the photographer please have the good manners to return and let me know why you need picture of my house?
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The spirit of Christmas was really present at New Hope’s presentation of “The Living Christmas Tree” tonight, except in the audience! As the performance was beginning, people were still allowed to save half a row for people that obviously hadn’t arrived yet. We had to sit way in the back and listen to small children being allowed to run back and forth during the performance. I don’t think people should be allowed to save so much room once the show begins. Maybe the ushers should be able to ask patrons to scoot down, like we do in church to make room for everyone. Merry Christmas, and “thank you” to New Hope and all their hard work.
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Fayette County should be full if people who understand what “values” are since it is about 70 percent Republican. Of course some have to say they are that, when they aren’t, or they can’t get elected. I hope none of our politicians don’t think like President Bush or Bernie Kerik, the former Homeland Security nominee. Bush is against doing much of anything to stop Mexican illegal aliens from coming here, and apparently neither does Kerik, who would have supervised immigration guards. Both of those families have utilized illegal aliens as servants and did not pay Social Security taxes for them so that someday they may retire. Of course, if they had paid the taxes they would have been caught immediately. Fayette County is being built and maintained by thousands of illegal, and we know it. It’s not the illegals that bother me; we need them. It is the blatant lying about it that shows their “values.” Who believes they didn’t know they were taking advantage of these people and were ignorant of the law? These are people who are smart enough to run the world. It is the old theory of “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Clinton was more brilliant than we suspected.
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Not only have Mr. Smith and Mr. Grinstein ensured that the Delta family is dead and buried, they are spitting on its grave with each employee who has 15-20 years of service and whose job they eliminate and escort out the door. I bet the soil on Mr. Woolman’s grave looks as if tilled under, as he turns over at the state of his company and the treatment of his employees.
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We’re are not showing disrespect for an individual’s service in our armed forces. We are merely voicing our disdain for a group of individuals that extorted money from Delta by threat of a strike. One has nothing to do with the other.
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I’m fairly new to the area and I feel truly lucky to have “Free Speech” to educate me on the facts here in Fayette County. I now know for a fact that Delta pilots and their families are pretentious, overpaid and just plain evil. I think I’ve read that they can actually contact Satan directly if they touch those wing-type things on their chests. The salaries of Delta pilots and how they spend it involve us all. Their houses may be larger than ours. We are talking global domination here. Don’t miss the boat, people. Get involved. We also know for a fact that all other Delta employees are selfless martyrs to be revered by us lowly citizens. Unlike the rest of us, they are unappreciated and mistreated by their employer and fellow employees. They suffer financial difficulties and job uncertainty. I am shocked! Can you imagine that such injustice exists in this country? They work long hours and are underpaid. They are not like us. They are victims! They have rights! Have you walked a mile in their shoes? Then don’t question their right to blame other people for their problems, criticize and complain about every blessed thing wrong in their lives week after week after week. How can we pretend to understand that kind of pain?
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The backwards-forwards sympathy for the pilots needs to be put to rest. During this holiday season let’s think of the thousands of laid-off Delta employees from all departments who have gone from 30K-75K to zero. They are the ones who need sympathy during this holiday season, not the pilots who have gone from 300K to 200K. They’ll be just fine.
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Is it any wonder that the Development Authority of PTC is bankrupt when they hire lawyers at $350 an hour ? The sad part is that this latest in a string of gross extravagances will get paid by us taxpayers. Just wait and see. On the funny side, at least it made the pilots jealous.
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Now lets see if this is correct, the three stooges (Brown, Rapson and Weed) of City Council established a new tourism board, put themselves on the board (unethical if not illegal). Hired an executive director (unfortunately her experience includes most recently being the prime Louisiana public figure being investigated in a federal racketeering investigation, easily discovered by Web search of her name). She or the board commissions a consulting firm (city personnel staff must have been on vacation that day) to develop new job descriptions at $15,000 cost to citizens (you and me) of tennis pro and clerical amphitheater jobs. She hires most of old staff back (good move but why hassle them for months) and adds several administrative assistants for her and a marketing position (what does she supposed to do). Board tries to run college courses out of town so they can have bigger office space (for their secretaries, I guess). Board allows new, private pro shop owner to use city employees during city work time to run shop (three stooges complained about two years ago with similar set up). They set up an Tourism Advisory Board but make it clear (see Weed’s comments) they do not want any advice. Maybe this is not enough for a state investigation but plenty of reasons to oust the three stooges at election time (if not before).
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Buster’s Homer annoints dog park
Epistle to the Editor

I was shocked to hear that the American Civil Liberties Union had filed suit against Santa for threats of violence and infringing upon our children’s freedom of expression.

The attorney for the ACLU cited that the children had been threatened with the following statements: “You better watch out! You better not cry! You better not pout! I’m telling you why! Santa Claus is coming to town!”

They will try to use the federal’s laws against organized crime and gang activity against the plump man in the red suit.

How does Mayor “Cheery” Brown follow his act of going around and slapping the nicotine sticks out of everyone’s mouth? Many villagers are worried that he’ll continue his battle against second-hand smoke and prevent us from using our chimneys.

He’d have a hard time fitting down the chimney and checking for compliance with his ever-expanding waistline. Better learn how Santa does it!

One gift that local villagers are not giving for Christmas this year is Fayette County Chairman Greg “Emperor” Dunn’s new book entitled “How to Lose Friends and Influence No One.”

The book includes such topics as the fun of harassing the local sheriff for no good reason and how to get regional leaders to hate you to the point that they won’t vote for you to be chairman of the Atlanta Regional Committee.

He also unveils his new political program for children called “No Child Allowed Up Front.”

He gives budding politicians the inside scoop with his patented five ways on how to lose your credibility with the voters.

On another note, the Emperor was offered the part of Scrooge in this year’s presentation but he turned it down because the role wasn’t a challenge.

The Peachy City Council is getting its dog park built for Christmas and my pit bull Homer can’t wait. He loves the taste of Jack Russell terriers.

I have included some verses entitled “Winter Peachy City Dog Park Wonderland,” as my Homer would sing it.

“Dog tags ring, are you listenin’?

“In the Dog Park, snow is glistenin’.

“’It’s yellow, NOT white, I’ve been there tonight,

“’Marking up my winter Peachy City Dog Park Wonderland.

“’Smell that tree? That’s my fragrance.

“’It’s a sign for wand’ring vagrants;

“’Avoid where I pee, it’s MY pro-per-ty!

“’Marked up as my winter Peachy City Dog Park Wonderland.

“’In the park my owner builds a snowman,

“’Following the exact classical design.

“’Then I’ll lift my leg and let it go, man,

“’So all the world will know it’s mine-mine-mine!

“’Straight from me to the fence-post,

“’Flows my natural incense boast;

“’Stay off of my TURF, this small piece of earth,

“‘I mark it as my winter Peachy City Dog Park Wonderland.’”

Woof, woof!

For the record, Bob “I Own This City” Lenox’s poem in last week’s Free Speech section was horrible (He couldn’t govern and he can’t rhyme).

Sweet dreams, villagers. Sleep tight and don’t let the “In-Direct” PAC bugs (with 30 members and no brain) bite. Jesus is the reason for the season!

Buster
The Bard of Braelinn

Visions of open meetings

‘Twas the time before sunshine and throughout our county

Not a meeting was open despite all our bounty.

The coffers were hung by the chimney with care,

In hope that more fees would soon be there.

The tennis welfare queens were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of reservoirs danced in their heads;

And Annie in her ‘kerchief and Bob in his cap

Had just settled down for a closed meeting nap.

When out on the scene there arose such a clatter

They sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the dais they flew and they ran,

Tore open the shutters and saw just one man.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below

When, what to the rascal’s eyes should appear,

A small local paper, that never had fear.

With a little old writer, who used the word shall

They knew in a moment it must be Saint Cal.

More rapid than eagles his targets they came

He whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

Now, Freddie! now Webb! Now Annie and Brooksie!

On Sprayberry! On Virgil, McNally and Fritzie!

To start your retirement, the end of your fall

Now dash away! Now dash away! Dash away all!

He’ll speak a terse warning, then go straight to the judge

And spank all the cheaters who still try to fudge

Though still they may profit and bilk our poor sewer,

Cal’s shown from the start, he’s always a doer.

He stands up for sunshine, with the toot of a horn

So many a leader is now so forlorn.

I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight

“May our meetings be open, and to all a free press.”

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Dec. 8, 2004

Do you realize that most of the Delta pilots you are slamming, including my husband, have fought for our country, whether it be Vietnam, Grenada, Somalia, or either of the Iraq wars? It’s really sad and you should be ashamed of yourselves for disrespecting these honorable veterans. They have worked hard to get where they are today. I am appalled that people think that their jobs were just handed to them on a silver platter. My husband and over 200 other Delta pilots were called up by the military reserves last year to go to war. Why don’t you thank them for their service rather than criticize them for their salary?

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Where does it all end? Pretty soon the baggage handlers will be complaining about how much the mechanics make and the gate agents will be upset because the flight attendants are paid more and the whoever will claim that the whatever is being paid more than he’s worth. Everyone is paid according to the amount their particular job commands. The pilots were being paid according to the old industry standard. Now they are being paid according to the new industry standard. Y’all need to get over it.

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To the retired Delta pilot and his retired Delta flight attendant wife, your million dollar house on Newnan’s Christmas Tour of Homes was gorgeous. I enjoyed hearing about the galley cart you just had to take with you when you retired to put in your kitchen but I really enjoyed the not so flattering comments made by visitors when they realized the homeowner was a Delta pilot.

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Love thy neighbor. Remember that one? I would bet that some of the pilot bigots writing in this column consider themselves to be good Christians, but I don’t remember God adding “with the exception of pilots” to the “Love thy neighbor” rule. Do you people sit in church every Sunday with all that nastiness in your hearts? You may be anonymous to those of us in Fayette County but I bet God is making a list.

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To the lady who thinks pilots are the only ones responsible for millions of dollars in equipment and the lives of others, let me assure you there are many people at Delta who share the same responsibility. There are mechanics, inspectors, machinists and many others who have a part in making sure the aircraft are safe and reliable. If any of them were to make a mistake, it could also cost the company its future and the lives of passengers.

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The comments by the 34-year Delta pilot says it all. If all work groups at Delta show nothing but disdain and disrespect for the pilot group, have you ever stopped to wonder why? The answer is in your last comment, “If you’re not one of them (pilots), I couldn’t care less about your thoughtless attacks. Questions? Send ‘em to someone who cares!” ’Nuff said.

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As a person who has lost a few jobs in my lifetime, as well as had some pay cuts over a 30-year career in working for other people, I wish to sympathize with the Delta pilots, and also the other workers there who have had some pay cuts and layoffs. It doesn’t matter how much money these people may still make, it will require a traumatic change in their lives, at least for most of them. I did hate to see so many of them take what little money was left and leave on their own, however. That doesn’t show much sympathy for those old friends who are left there, or chose to stick it out. The thing for Delta people to do is simply to buckle down to a less affluent life and be very thankful the place didn’t close like Eastern.

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The tennis center is up to its old tricks again. The current head pro has now been replaced by a new head pro on the pretext that he is better qualified. How do you replace an excellent loyal coach with impeccable teaching credentials who is a member of the USPTA? It would not be an easy task. But to replace that person with someone who has no U.S. teaching credentials and no U.S. permanent residency status would seem a little suspect. The whole idea of offering a job in the U.S. to a non-U.S. resident is that there is no one else that is qualified to do that particular job. Clearly not the case here. The replaced pro is all around better qualified. Let’s not turn this into another Rapson case with the taxpayers footing the legal bills. Let’s have someone at the top who knows what they are doing. Mr. Brown, do you have any ideas?

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I see where the new tourism group has settled on some of the executives to run the Tennis Center and the Amphitheater. I have yet to see a detailed budget to do so, particularly what their salary is going to be. I’m not interested in hearing whether or not they pay their way; anyway they owe somewhere between $1 and $2 million already, and it is critical that they be watched this time before we taxpayers get stuck with even more bills to pay. If the people who want to play tennis with the pros want to do that, let them pay the pros. If the courts aren’t open and free, the public shouldn’t have to support such high society. Build a teen center with gyms, tennis, basketball, pool, study halls, small library, dance floor, cafeteria, showers, etc., and most of us will pay for that. If town officials can’t supervise a teen center, then we need to get some who can.

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I was appalled to read in the paper a few months ago that the Development Authority of Peachtree City (DAPC) had hired downtown Atlanta lawyers at $350 an hour to defend against a lawsuit by Ms. Rapson, and amazed at DAPC’s gall in trying to stick Ms. Rapson with their $210,000 bill for attorney’s fees. I see poetic justice now that the DAPC has to eat this fee, but I wonder which citizens, in the end, have to pay for all this extravagance. When they think they’re spending somebody else’s money, many public officials simply go hog-wild.

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What is the meaning of the word “tourism” that is incorporated into the name of the new authority in Peachtree City? Are they working on getting tourists over here from I-85, or just from the big hotel? Just how many hotel rooms does the tennis center fill for a year? Don’t know how many rooms the hotels here have but if it were as much as 146,000 room days, which it might be, tennis might occupy a few hundred room days. At least it is more than the Development Authority does. They still owe a couple of million and have lost industry. Why don’t we quit playing these silly games and do something useful?

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To the parents of the idiot driver of the red Honda 2000 who was speeding, tail-gating and cutting off everyone on Ga. Highway 74 so you could turn on Jenkins Road: I assume you were a student going to Sandy Creek High School because in the fraction of a second I saw you passing on the right to cut off the driver three cars ahead you looked about 18 years old. I hope you are well insured because if your son doesn’t kill himself, he will kill someone else. I hope he likes his new toy. What were you thinking, giving a high performance car to your irresponsible offspring?

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Why would smokers chose to no longer go to restaurants just because they were no longer allowed to harm others with their trapped indoor smoke? Isn’t that the height of selfishness, to deny themselves pleasure if they can’t harm others in doing so?

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I agree “The Passion of The Christ” has been torn apart and the media has missed the message. In everything there is a message. What God gave for us is the message: His only begotten son that we should live and have the right to the tree of life. Not hang Mel, or the Jews, but just got the message. Because of this death we have a right to live forever.

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How come almost all of those “W — the president” stickers I see are on big gas-guzzling SUVs? My guess it’s because he appeals to people who, like himself, want to blissfully ignore our scandalously rising dependence on imported oil.

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Since [Fayette State Court Solicitor] Steve Harris was so bent on prosecuting folks with too many or too large signs in their own yards, do you think he or one of his campaign workers could remove his sign from the side of South Jeff Davis Road?

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I know that the flu shot fiasco coming up is some kind of secret conspiracy in order to cover up early mistakes of letting too many shots get wasted on people who didn’t have to have them. Even when people call the Health Department to get an appointment (just started about 10 days ago) they are told, if they qualify, to come alone and to not tell anyone you are getting a shot. If the pressure can be kept off everyone who screwed up until they are gone (about 85 percent of total to be available already gone) then the doors can be locked and everyone involved can blame someone else for not taking the leadership early enough to prevent the wasting of the early shots given to just about anybody. The fact that our federal government screwed up and only had two vendors, making us at 50 percent with one down, is not the real problem now: Hoarding, selfishness, and poor planning locally wasted the shots. Americans seem to not want to cooperate with rationing any more of scarce items.

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The TV show, 20/20, this week showed a 55-year-old Army Reserve grandmother training for Iraq. She has been called up. She is 4-feet-8-inches tall, just a little taller than her gun. No way she could carry the gun, ammo, and a backpack. These are some of the numbers that the Army has been using over the years that they thought they would never need. Of course she will be an office employee somewhere over there, just when we need the help. Over one-third of the so-called Iraqi police force are now not showing up for work because anywhere from five to 50 are being killed every day. These are the fellows our new Homeland Security Chief trained so well. Fayette County is slowly showing up in the casualties over there in spite of the fact that not very many are enlisted. I’m really concerned about some fake government, like in Afghanistan, will be set up next year in Iraq, we will leave, and all those 1,400 dead men and women and 12,000 wounded, will be left holding a bag full of holes only. I don’t see the plan to finish it right and be something to be proud of for hundreds of years, I’m sorry.

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Have you noticed that lately Peachtree City and Fayette County have a definite Florida look? Downed trees and blue tarps over holes in the roofs of so many of our neighbors’ homes. Once again we are reminded to respect Mother Nature.

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This letter is to all neighbors in Surrey Park subdivision who see it as their calling in life to burn all the leaves and trash each sunny, beautiful weekend that we have here in Fayetteville. As if the air pollution from all the traffic that must travel through Fayetteville is not enough, you folks seem to thrive on adding to it. Please think about your neighbors that would like to open their windows for fresh air on a nice day and when they do your smoke drifts into the home. How about those of us who want to wash our cars without the ashes falling all over them after it is clean? We have watched other neighbors sweeping the ashes off their porches and patios after one of your sessions. Some of our neighbors with pools have to skim the large ash out during the fall-out portion of your burning session. Believe us when we say, the wind carries your smoke and ashes much further than you think. Might we suggest you rake your leaves and limbs into the woods or pull your trash to the curb? The smoke not only stinks, it is littering and polluting our beautiful subdivision. Please have some common courtesy, as you are not out on 50 acres of land by yourselves

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My child is graduating from FCHS May 2005. She is an above average student with an SAT above the Fayette County level. I complained about FCHS and feel perfectly justified to do so. “Don’t blame the coaches and teachers, they’re only working with what they’re given” is childish and immature. The mark of a truly great teacher is one who can teach to children at all levels including your remarkable few at the very top. AP and gifted classes tend to have children who don’t need molly-coddling (as you say) therefore those classes are not a true measure of what goes on at FCHS nor an indicator of who is or isn’t molly-coddled there. There are serious issues arising at FCHS and they can be handled if they are addressed. I’m speaking as a parent and educator. If the writer spent their FCHS career in gifted and AP classes I’m quite sure they received an excellent education. The problem is, What about the other 85 percent of the student population? Everyone can’t be gifted, nor should they be in order to receive the same “quality” education the writer evidently received.

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Bard downs Peachy City’s extravagance for its kids

It always amazes me how much money our villagers spend on Christmas gifts every year! Some of our villagers are going into serious debt to show that they love their family and friends.

During the Depression children behaved better in school, learned more in church and didn’t get much for Christmas. It seems like the more the little grubbers get these days, the more problems their families have to deal with every year. I can’t figure out why we put so much pressure on ourselves.

My parents tried to teach me about what was really important in life. Unfortunately, I always thought that I knew better. By the time I realized my parents were right, I had kids that didn’t believe me.

If you are going to clog the roads Christmas shopping, remember to drive in the right-hand lane. Nothing is more infuriating than being late and not being able to get there because the driver in front of you is moving at five miles per hour under the posted speed limit.

Move over because some of us may not be as jolly at you. Go spread some joy, just do it in the slow lane.

The wife and I went to our first Christmas party this weekend over in Kedron Hills. They had Christmas karaoke.

My fellow villagers, I ask you to please stop, take a deep breath and think before deciding that karaoke is a good idea.

The mixture of people who shouldn’t drink with people who shouldn’t sing is nothing short of a disaster.

When they got to “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer,” we got the heck out of there! A mind really is a terrible thing to waste.

Joy to the Peachy City!
Buster
The Bard of Braelinn

Bard the card invited to crawl back under his rock

There’s someone from Braelinn who calls himself “Bard”

And in his own mind sees himself as a “card.”

From the shadows of anonymity he tries to seek fame

By attacking everyone he can by their name.

He attacks and attacks, it seems every week,

And still hides in shadows which proves he is meek.

But slander and lies is all that we get

From the Bard of Braelinn who is really all wet.

It’s so easy to sling mud at a person by name

Though if we knew who you were would you sling just the same?

For courage is something that is born of the heart

But if it means showing courage the Bard will have no part.

For it’s easy to slander and sling and defame

If you hide behind a foolish and fictional name.

As for Bard, his horn he’ll continue to toot

But now is the time to give this coward the boot.

So Bard, how’s it feel to be attacked and defamed

By someone like you who refuses to be named?

But I’ll be happy to debate you in print or to face;

We’ll just publish our names then set a time and a place.

Now I know this won’t happen for a coward he’ll be

And continue to attack each of us, you and me.

So Bard please slip back under the rock which you came

And let us never ever hear again of your name.

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Dec. 1, 2004

Ironically, some of the worst drivers in Clayton County (and Coweta County, and Fulton County, and Spalding County, and Gwinnett County, and Cobb County, and Henry County, and Meriwether County, etc.), have Fayette County tags. Honestly, what should it matter what “county” is on a car? Cars are not toys, nor are the precious lives inside the cars. Get over your county issues and drive your car to get from point A to point B. You need to take Prozac or something, because you are a road rage waiting to happen. Chill out! ___________________________________________________________________

Something tells me the person who complained about the education at FCHS has a child who performs academically just as well as the football players play. Like someone had the intelligence to point out in an earlier post: Don’t blame the coaches (and teachers). They are just doing the best with what they were given. And as a successful FCHS graduate, I’d like to add, the teachers taught just fine, especially in gifted and AP classes. If anything, they molly-coddle the students who are not at the top of the class and delay the education (while increasing the boredom) of those who “get it.” ___________________________________________________________________

It’s too bad that we don’t have more of a crime problem in Peachtree City. Then the police wouldn’t have to justify their salaries by harassing our teens. How many otherwise good kids making a small mistake have to be charged like habitual criminals?
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Go Bard. Stick it to the man! We are tired of being dominated by a bunch of backdoor capitalist lawbreakers disguised as politicians. Bring them down like the Delta pilots’ pay, baby. Spank the neighbor’s cat, old man. Stick it to Lenox, the anti-Christ! Turn off the NASCAR dude and keep sticking it to the man. Pick up on the vibe and tell Emperor Dunn that he is a swindler. Go, big daddy of Braelinn. ___________________________________________________________________

Cousins Properties posted a net income of $226 million in the third quarter but they can’t spring for a Christmas tree lighting at The Avenue? The one sponsored by the city was a fun time to get together with friends. Then The Avenue wanted to sponsor their own tree lighting so the city gave theirs up; we didn’t need two, after all. Now, The Avenue drops it, leaves the city without a tree and expects us to believe they are 1) too busy or 2) the crowds outgrew their space. Funny. I’ve never heard a shopping mall complain about too many people. How does Lenox manage? Sadly, in just a few years The Avenue has managed to eliminate a long-standing PTC tradition. Just another small-town quality destroyed by greed.
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I want to respond to the nice lady who wrote the letter to the editor about why the Free Speech section is a bad idea because the writers are anonymous. While her letter was probably well-intentioned, she does not know the bitter reality of what the business elite can do to someone. I have written to the Free Speech section on a number of occasions. I wanted to express my opinion in the past but I would have jeopardized my wife’s career as a real estate agent. The average Fayette County citizen has no idea of how much control a select few businessmen have over what does and does not happen in our area. When Steve Brown tells us that certain developers and politicians are making deals happen that do not benefit the local people, believe him. These people will ruin you if dare to speak out against them. They have sued Steve Brown, the newspaper and several others for questioning their actions. Tate Godfrey of Group VI was a prized lieutenant within the select group, and when he failed them he was cut into pieces and blackballed in Georgia. There is collection of individuals on the board of the Chamber of Commerce called the “Big Six” and they have the ability to turn a small army of people against anyone that defies them. One of their tactics is a practice called “choke the candidate” where they threaten to heavily fund the political opposition if the candidate does not swear to work with them. They choked Dan Tennant to the point where he was willing to do just about anything that the development interests wanted. Please keep the Free Speech section alive!

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Peachtree City needs to make some long-range decisions as to what kind of city we want to be. Are we interested in people retiring here? If so we must quit raising taxes every year. Are we interested in keeping our teenagers out of trouble? If so we must provide adequate things to occupy them properly. Do we want more industry to help pay for schools and roads? If so we need to do what industry requires: Low taxes and cheap labor. Do we want professional employees to run the town, or politicians? If we want professionals then we must hire them and pay them extra, not regularly, but upon results, and let the mayor attend luncheons and chair the council meetings. If we want politicians, then we are nuts. We need to decide just how many banks, insurance companies, drugstores, lawyers, and doctors it will take to strangle the whole local economy. Sometime, somewhere, if we don’t start producing something here to sell, instead of paperwork and money-changing, we will certainly collapse.
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To the irresponsible parents who brought their 4-6-year-olds to the R-rated violent movie Fayetteville dollar theater and plopped their fat butts in the front row so their children could play with their toys below the screen: Shame on you. You not only are unfit parents, but are also disrespectful to others. You should listen more to what Bill Cosby has to say about responsible parenting. ___________________________________________________________________

Mr. Delta Pilot who has been treated with disdain for 34 years by his fellow employees, look in the mirror and repeat after me: ” I am an hourly paid union worker. I earn respect, not command it.” ___________________________________________________________________

A big thanks to the Delta flight attendants who moved a group of soldiers from coach to first class on the last flight I took with Delta. Thank you! These guys deserved those empty seats more than anyone else I know, and were so humble about accepting them. And what a thrill it was to hear several other passengers thanking these guys for their service to our country. Again, humble “you’re welcomes” from the soldiers. When you all keep fighting over who’s got more to complain about, pilots or non-pilots at Delta, think about the soldiers, and shut your trap (unless you too have served our country). ___________________________________________________________________

Having lived in Peachtree City now for 20 years, and listening to many people comment upon how gross Delta pilots were in most of their dealings with retail merchants in town and some professionals, I find it hard to now believe that the criticism now seems to be coming mostly from their own coworkers. I suppose mechanics, ticket sales, etc., were coworkers, but one never knows when so much money is involved. I don’t really think whatever complaints people had about Delta pilots was any different than any town with a number of people in the same age group who make a lot of money. They have no loyalty to a local town or its merchants, and have no patience with ordinary people, whether they are pilots, or computer software designers. Most pilots left the military for more pay at Delta and they got it. Everything runs in cycles, it appears, and it is just a business that was over-developed and the lid blew off. We now need to stop the foolishness and criticism and just get along as a well-known person once said. ___________________________________________________________________

It looks like all the pilots are back from their summer homes in the Caribbean. They’ve caught up with the Free Speech from three weeks ago. For the “outsider” saying we are acting like a pack of wolves, you weren’t there to know why we are acting that way. They “offered” 14 percent AFTER everyone else already sacrificed. As for Santa being a pilot, there you go giving him the all the credit, as most other pilot worshipers. Where would he be if someone didn’t feed his reindeer, clean up their [mess], polished his sleigh, loaded the toys, and made sure everything was in tip-top condition before he took off? Merry Christmas. ___________________________________________________________________

To the Delta pilot to whom nobody has been nice to for 34 years: Have you checked your attitude lately? It is very hard to imagine that for 34 years you have been treated so badly by your fellow Delta employees. I think perhaps you may have a highly inflated opinion of yourself and it shows. A word of advice, which I’m sure you won’t take: I have found the better you treat other people the better they treat you. ___________________________________________________________________

I noticed where the Atlanta Journal, in the Fayette section, last Thursday had an article about crime in the west side of Peachtree City. This was written as if that area was becoming as bad as a few areas in downtown Atlanta. Maybe now is the time to do something about it if it is true. Atlanta gave up on certain neighborhoods years ago as incorrigible; if it ain’t murder we don’t go. Let’s don’t let that sort of thing even start here. Come up with a plan and enforce it. ___________________________________________________________________

Now that Republicans have discovered that they can be elected without any semblance of budget balancing, they are suddenly for local communities, such as Fayette County and Peachtree City, raising sales taxes, raising property taxes, and totally abandoning zero based budgeting, that is, have every dollar justified every year, not just add to what is there already. ___________________________________________________________________

J. Frank Lynch seems to think that Kathy Cox’s suggestion about removing the word “evolution” would have made the church-going folks in Cobb County happy. Maybe it would. After all, evolution is only a scientific theory, not a fact. In light of this, perhaps we should look at removing some other scientific theories from our science books. The theory of gravity might be a good place to start. We can continue to throw out the theories of general relativity, quantum mechanics, plate tectonics, and electromagnetism. Many of these things can’t be easily observed or directly seen. And they’re all just theories. Perhaps the anti-scientific folks in Cobb County will be happy once we get rid of all of these pesky theories. I for one would be happy if we could just keep the religious theorists from meddling with our schools. ___________________________________________________________________

How is the new library coming along? Is the temporary one functioning well? Are the kids on-line there? Will it take two years instead of one to build (a five-month project normally)? Are all of the library employees functioning economically? Maybe a year off with pay? What a mistake this was in so many ways. That whole shack on the lake should have been bulldozed and a youth center should have been built, with a library. ___________________________________________________________________

I am a North Cove resident who is scared to walk through North Hill after being attacked by a Jack Russell in the street. I am upset by the attitude of the dog’s owner who seems to think it was everyone else’s fault except theirs. To say that the dog who was attacked got what it deserved and that they would have bitten the child too is very frightening. Dog owners need to be responsible for their animals and if this dog has bitten multiple times it has a problem. But not as big a problem as its owners. ___________________________________________________________________

I’m thinking about investing on E-Bay in a grilled cheese sandwich, with not much mold, if another one comes along (and you can bet it will). I need the money it might bring later as an investment to supplement my Social Security payments. Since my Social Security payments weren’t invested in Enron, WorldCom, Delta, Johns-Manville, United Airlines, savings and loan banks, DeSotos, Corvairs, and crippling prescription medicines, and the stock market in general, unfortunately, I need the money. However, being a pragmatist, I wish to suggest that ALL of one’s Social Security deduction be put into the stock market immediately. Why fool around with just the employees’ part? Put it all there! If it is so good to do and is guaranteed to pay off great, let’s do it now. I’m sure Jose and Immanuel, and Rashid, and all the other unfortunates, along with the 40 percent who don’t even have health insurance will contribute fully and leave it there so that they will have a retirement fund. It is all malarkey anyway; just borrow five more trillion from Europe. ___________________________________________________________________

We Americans are a strange lot nowadays. When the 3,000-plus were killed in the Twin Towers in NYC, we made the families all multimillionaires. These were people who went to work, like so many others, sit down at their desk and computer console in an investment company and made a good living. Absolutely nothing wrong with that as far as those people were concerned. However, we now have had 1,200-plus in Iraq alone killed, and about 12,000 wounded (that they report; accidents aren’t reported). I am afraid it is the beginning. I want to give you one example of what those military families with deaths got: A marine sergeant with nine years in service was killed. He had a wife and two kids here. She got $12,000 insurance and three years’ health insurance, nothing else. No one was allowed to even see his casket come back into Dover, Del. We need to do better.

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Just read a help wanted ad that was looking for a dentist. A $10,000 sign-on bonus was offered. I am somewhat familiar with this type of new medicine since I have dental insurance, of a sort, where new or inadequate dentists practice until they can build up a practice, then they drop you. Patching and putting off treatment is standard practice. We have had four dentists in recent years. Also, believe this or not, I heard a medical doctor (MD) talking about who the top producer was in his corporate organization! It would be interesting to know which one gets the most priority in these situations: fully adequate treatment, or what is necessary to get bonuses and keep your job. Job? I thought it was professional. ___________________________________________________________________

Buster: Tollbooth for Hwy. 54 sounds good

My cousin over in Tallahassee had us over for Thanksgiving dinner. She has this little hairy dog that sits up on its two hind legs and yaps at you for scraps while you’re eating. For those of you that have such a dog I will let you in on a little secret. No one else on the planet thinks such behavior from your dog is cute! Oh yeah, the little Christmas doggie sweater is a bad idea too.

My cousin didn’t make any desserts because her husband was on a diet. Gee thanks! We should have sent him outside with the pooch.

Speaking of hefty, I saw Mayor “Cheery” Brown at the Publix last week. The guy probably steps on his talking bathroom scale at night and the thing screams for mercy. The mayor has got a little chimichanga reservoir going on around his waist.

His weight gain is probably from having to eat all the belligerent nonsense that Greg “Emperor” Dunn and the Three County “Stooges” feed us continuously.

Emperor Dunn’s latest dribble on why we need to talk about why the villagers are paying for emergency medical services and not receiving anything in return is just plain crazy. Anyhow, it’s still a good time to get on the treadmill, Mayor Cheery, while it can still hold your weight.

It’s now official. Coweta County has grown so fast that they now need commuter bus service. The Cowetians are multiplying like rats. Pretty soon they will be asking for a HOV lane on Ga. Highway 54 heading east into the Peachy City. A tollbooth on Hwy. 54 at the Coweta line is starting to look like a good idea.

Everyone dining at the Chin Chin restaurant just wants them to send the buses through Newnan and not through Peachy City and T-Town!

We ought to give Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church a medal for having to put up with the knuckleheads that live behind them.

This guy tried to get me to sign his petition against the development plan to help the church. I asked him what would be a suitable substitute for the church and he told me that he only wanted a church on that site.

The church leaders did a pretty good job of explaining that the site costs too much for a small church to purchase it and that a large church won’t buy it because they would inherit the same expansion problems that the Lutherans have now.

The hypocritical part of it all is that quite a few of the howling neighbors are members of local churches that have moved and had to get rezonings due to membership growth. I think of some of them friends.

We all need to pray that the City Council of Peachy City doesn’t give in to the $1 million demand from the Peachy “Embarrassing” Bank. The gloomy news from Delta “We Love To Lose Money And It Shows” Airlines is bad enough.

We don’t need the new Peachy City “Non-Development” Authority members throwing the disgusting debt on the backs of us taxpayers.

The “In-Direct” PAC, with 30 members and no brain, wants the city to pay for the unlawful obligations. Perhaps we should get Mayor “Cheery” Brown to sit on them. That would break them.

Retiring anchorman Dan “Irresponsible” Rather is rumored to have inked a new book deal with former Peachy City Mayor Bob “I Own This City” Lenox.

The book, entitled “I’m OK, You’re Forgotten,” will use a series of forged documents to prove that Lenox was really a good leader after all. You can find it in the “blatant fiction” section at the Peachy City Books-A-Million.

There is a special appendix that includes all his foot-in-the-mouth letters to the editor and another that lists everyone that he shared a business interest with and how they profited from local government.

Yours truly,
Buster
The Bard of Braelinn