2-02-05

You people sure are long-winded. I thought these were supposed to be short.

Oh my goodness! Surely the end of the earth is near when the “anonymous” writer hails Bob Lenox as a noble man and the old developer thieves as people of integrity. Since when is trash-talking noble? The Bozo has to hired an attorney to send his e-mails for him. Only the old guard would be mean enough to sue him and he’s on their side. The funniest part is that his attorney is Rick Lindsey.

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The stated mission of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce is to support and address the needs of local industry and to strengthen our economic base. How ironic that board member Bob Lenox moved his company warehouse out of Peachtree City and Fayette County, reducing the local work force. Bob Lenox is also the Governmental Affairs Coordinator for the Chamber of Commerce. I will no longer support any company with the Chamber of Commerce seal on display as I feel he is an embarrassment to Peachtree City as a past elected official and even more so as a current Chamber of Commerce board member.

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Unbelievable! Mr. Anonymity, who claims Bob Lenox has integrity, has retained Rick Lindsey (Bob Lenox’s neighbor) to be his filter in submitting items to Free Speech. Mr. Lindsey is the law partner of Jim Webb. Jim Webb unsuccessfully tried to sue Steve Brown and The Citizen Newspaper for exposing his questionable ethics while serving as the Peachtree City attorney in the 1990s (The Lenox regime). I hope The Citizen newspaper will not even open an e-mail from the Webb firm, much less print anything they submit. Of course, the firm of Webb and Lindsey will probably scream lawsuit if the editor chooses to ignore their free speech. Don’t let them bully you again, Cal!

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Nice move, former PTC mayor, Bob Lenox. I read where you moved your company out of Peachtree City two months ago to Smyrna, Ga. It’s a shame you don’t love “your town” enough to keep those tax dollars here.

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Seen at traffic intersection with sign: “Clayton County lawyer will represent blind and drunk golf cart operators for food.” Fayette County, please help welcome our new neighbors from Clayton.

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I just read the article in The Citizen concerning the Fayette County Commission discussion of a special EMS district for Peachtree City. Since I attended this meeting I was surprised at the characterization of commissioners Frady, Pfeifer and Wells as “outraged” as editorialized in J. Frank Lynch’s article. J. Frank seems to think that when someone has a strong opinion on an issue that to be expressive and pointed in their remarks amounts to outrage. Personally, I found Commissioner Pfiefer’s prepared remarks to be exactly on point. The delivery was calm, precise and addressed his position on the issue head on. Commissioner Frady used his long history in dealing with the people of Peachtree City to remind people that the present state of contention between the county and PTC was not the norm in prior years. He could not recall when or why PTC had “opted out” of the county EMS. Pointing out how this arrangement is detrimental to the people of PTC is not being contentious, but informative. Commissioner Wells did not address Mayor Brown directly in any of her remarks despite that fact that (in typical Brown fashion) he plopped himself on the front row so that he could be seen by all in attendance. Commissioner Wells was direct in her remarks concerning the issue. She did not suggest that Mayor Brown secede from Fayette County or that HE take his marbles and go home as J. Frank states. She did say (and I checked) that the attitude displayed was tantamount to someone who would take such actions. It is amazing how that minor omission substantially changes the tone of the statements. Perhaps J. Frank was not as quick on the short hand. I thought her reference to PTC being one of the crown jewels of the county was a reflection of her true opinion of what great place PTC is to live. She was also accurate when she said that PTC could not thrive in a county that was not as supportive of it as is the Fayette County government. Put PTC in Clayton county and see what would happen. Mayor Brown would have you believe that the tax inequity is created because PTC does not receive services for which it is taxed. He needs to remember (as Commissioner Wells pointed out) that if one of his constituents has a heart attack or auto accident in the county, even if it is only 5 feet outside the PTC city limits, it is the county, not PTC, that will respond. It is such circumstances, which occur on a regular basis each year, for which PTC citizens are paying. If the citizens of PTC want to lower their taxes, they should ask the PTC city council why, despite the recommendation of their own independent consultants, they will not even entertain the prospect of consolidation of services with the county. J. Frank, be careful of your hyperbole. It is more important to be accurate than to try to “add fuel to the fire” for the sake of selling a few more copies of the newspaper.

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Keep going, Steve Brown. I don’t know how you keep doing it. The bum that announced to run against you thinks you’re making the county government mad. They deserve everything they get for ripping us off on our taxes. We enjoy finally being represented.

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It seems to me that Mayor Brown and ex-Mayor Lenox are a little too interested in each other, if you know what I mean, not that there is anything wrong with that.

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If Mayor “pudgy” Brown and ex-Mayor Bob “I’ve got nothing going on in my life” Lenox ever get together for lunch, you got to think it will not be a place serving small portions. I am kind of surprised that they need to get together for lunch; one would think they would get to see plenty of each other at the local Mensa gatherings.

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When Steve Brown ran for mayor in 2001 his Web site proudly proclaimed: “I have a proven record of defending open government and promoting ethics in government. As an ethics board member, I had to ask myself would I be upholding my duty by avoiding this issue knowing that our ordinances state that even the appearance of impropriety requires action?” According to what I have read his actions regarding the Comcast broadcast certainly have the “appearance of impropriety.” Why is it that he thinks this doesn’t “require action”? Why is suddenly holding him accountable for his actions now labeled “an attempt to cast doubt on [him] in an election year?” Should Steve Brown not be held to the very standards he outlined in his own campaign? The very standards he demanded of others?

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Rick Viall, a continuous candidate with no victories, thinks that we do not need principled government. Furthermore, he thinks that the taxpayers should pay for government incompetence, waste and corruption (his words). Mayor Brown was very clear in his State of the City Address on the city’s Web site. He said, “Peachtree National Bank had exhaustive knowledge of the authority’s actions when they released the non-collateralized loans to the Development Authority. They knew about the debt funding of operating expenses. They knew that the DAPC did not have the means to pay the loans back.” If the mayor’s statements are true, I’ll be doggoned if I’m paying the filchers back! Sorry, Viall, move to Fayetteville.

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Direct-PAC in Peachtree City is a bunch of disgruntled folks who have seen their candidates get thrashed at the polls in the last two PTC municipal elections. None of the members of the PAC will run for office (because they know they are unlikely to win) or even admit to their identity. I suspect the citizens of PTC can see through the heretofore futile attempts by Direct-PAC to influence elections. Here’s hoping that Direct-PAC members follow the example set by McMenamin, Godfrey and Christian and leave town.

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Direct-PAC, where are you? Anonymous “Old Guard” person said in the Free Speech that they have hired Webb and Lindsey lawyers to anonymously collect Mayor Steve Brown stories to use against him in the election. These stories will then be spread anonymously. These are the same lawyers that gave King Bob Lenox the legal go-ahead to give the Development Authority the hotel/motel tax for 50 years. When it came to light, it was ruled illegal. Hey, wait a minute, isn’t this Old Guard/law firm move a political action committee that’s not registered? Yeah, sounds just like when King Bob formed the secret PAC to boost the referendum so he could get the city to make a “Lenox Recreation Center.” Except that he conveniently violated the rules, too. So where is Direct-PAC on either of these violations? That’s what I thought; it’s not about ethics, it’s about making money.

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Cal Beverly’s editorial in the Jan. 26 Citizen was one of the most distasteful columns I have ever read in any newspaper. The general public is getting tired of Cal stirring up trouble with his volatile speech. Next time, Mr. Beverly, please engage your brain prior to insulting a church and making pronouncements that you [know] nothing about.

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Mayoral Candidate Logsdon, can you please provide us with your Web site address so we can better understand your position on PTC issues? In the interim can you please explain what you meant by your statement related to the delays of TDK. “That has an economic impact that we’re losing daily,” Logsdon said. Please elaborate on this statement on how Peachtree City is being economically impacted. I think it may be the developers that want to develop over in Coweta County that may be impacted more than Peachtree City. If anything our infrastructure is going to be impacted by the increased access. You understand that the subdivisions that will be connected by TDK expansion will have access to our cart paths and other facilities. As you probably know the developers will most likely provide the connections just like the connects that have been established into the city of Tyrone and other Fayette County areas. Now there is the potential to extend the access outside our county too. Hmmmm.

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I have noticed that while living in Peachtree City for the last several years, the people and the developers have lost the vision of what Peachtree City is all about. While living here I have watched the construction of several buildings. The sad thing about these buildings is the majority of them are banks. How many banks does a city need with a population of about 40,000 people? In comparison with communities in North Metro Atlanta, none of them have golf cart paths as extensive as ours. We have several excellent golf courses as well as one particular course built in the manufacturing or industrial area. So, why is it so difficult to attract more corporate businesses to this area, other than banks? To the mayor, the City Council, and to the Development Authority, please, no more banks.

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Harold Logsdon is the Bard of Braelinn.

What is our beautiful little city coming to when two people that are supposed to be pillars of our community (Brown and Lenox) have nothing better to do than lash out at each other in the paper? These guys need to grow up. Logsdon sounds pretty good to me after reading their insults to each other. We need an adult in office.

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People have flocked to Fayette County for a multitude of reasons, but most are for the school system and the quality of life. Now we have people that have fled from surrounding areas, areas that have never achieved this same level, and they want us to change. For what possible reason? Of course when logic fails, they throw the ever reliable race card. There is nothing racist about the method Fayette County chooses its elected officials. In fact, racism has never entered the fray until now. When you move to an area to enjoy the good life, sit back and enjoy the good life. Don’t come here demanding changes to fit your desires. After all, where you came from wasn’t good enough to keep you.

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You’ll have a parade for other groups, my hindquarters. Your organization isn’t what it started out as. It now stands for “National African-American Complaining Platform.”

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Thanks for the advice; however, I do practice what I preach, just not when you want me to. I have in the past, and will in the future respond to issues in the letters section where name is included. The most recent time was last year in response to an article by Cal Thomas and his opinion on affirmative action. Look it up. Can you say that you have done the same? Save your ironic wonderment on why someone would express such mean-spirited comments on a parade for someone who represented peace. What are you and the other writer going to do for the month of February?

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I live at Starr’s Mill. I work in Atlanta. I commute south on Ga. Highway 74 through the Ga. Highway 54 intersection, which is always congested at rush hour. Tonight was unbelievable. I saw [a] Fayette County marshal pulling a motorist over, blocking traffic, right at the intersection. Hello? Wouldn’t you be serving Fayette County better by guarding the jail?

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Forget about Waffle House. Tyrone now has the Sonic Snob. Yes, folks, the Sonic Snob has shown her true colors, and let me just tell you they are not Sonic red and yellow. She even had the nerve to ask the Sonic guys to change the colors for her. Mr. Sears (Tyrone town attorney) brought to her attention that colors are not in the town’s control. You’d think she would know this as Planning Commission chairperson. Good luck, Mr. Sears, cleaning up all her opinionated and rude comments.

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If the citizens want a really good laugh, go to one of Tyrone’s P&Z commission meetings. Thursday night the chairwoman told the director of development of Sonic Corporation that their colors were “garish.” Could they possibly not be so “garish”? Gee, they have only been Sonic’s colors for 52 years. They also refused to let a dry cleaner have his business in the South Hampton shopping plaza, because he actually wanted to have his cleaning done on site. They were concerned environmentally. Wonder what’s up with that considering a developer has torn down a house that tested positive for asbestos, which was not demolished properly although according to one resident, she reported the demolition on the day it started to the city. Guess that one got swept under the rug. Same developer overlooked getting a permit, cut a golf cart path from a new subdivision into South Fork; homeowners weren’t aware until the bulldozers were in their back yard. Oh, and the developer bought a house in South Fork so he could cut the easement. And the whole torrid story with the Lake Pendleton fiasco. To the members that are so concerned about the new development and the landscaping issues, could you volunteer your time to clean up Handley Park that is such a eyesore in downtown Tyrone? I think you should clean up your own front door first. And how many signatures do we need to have these members removed and replaced with professional and qualified individuals, along with a few city employees?

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I’d like to know more about Barry Amos and this whole Shamrock Park story. Sounds like a huge T-Town cover up to me. I bet Eyewitness Investigation could get to the bottom of this.

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I thought the reason Barry Amos was hired in the first place was he is supposed to be an engineer and know that wetlands can’t be used as ballfields without soil erosion. Now the people in Pendleton are paying for his lack of knowledge by having to have their lake dredged. The water from Lake Pendleton continues on into Kedron Lake which is part of the Peachtree City drinking water. Just wait till septic lines in Handley Field spill in. Peachtree City will do what the people of Pendleton should have done: Sue the city of Tyrone and have Barry Amos replaced. But then Peachtree City did replace Barry Amos once before, when he worked for them.

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How lazy have drivers in Fayette County become? Do you have to have the closest parking spot to go work out at the gym? Is it not illegal to park without a permit in a handicapped spot at a church? Check out church parking lots during Upwards basketball practices and games.

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“A criminal warrant has been issued for a 23-year-old black McDonald’s worker who allegedly raped a 16-year-old white Sandy Creek High School student.” Does this sentence bother any one else? Come on, Citizen, I thought you were above this.

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When is the Fayette County Board of Education going to do something about the administration at Kedron Elementary? I read with great interest the note written by the FCHS parent who was speaking of “the good ol’ boy” network in the county. There have been many complaints about this administration and nothing has happened. Could it be that they are such good friends with Kathy Cox? How many students have to leave the school for you all to get the message?

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We now pay four times the percentage of our house value that we paid 20 years ago in Fayette County. Sales tax is triple percentage what it was then, except for groceries. Most of this has come about in the last few years. Not talking about dollars quadrupling and tripling; percentage of the value only. During that time we have gone from a Democratic (liberal) politics to a Republican (conservative) politics. When it was left up to the states to defend our country, build interstate roads, educate our children, etc., it simply was not getting done. Localities will only raise taxes for more employees, which may mean you have to build more buildings to do so, and the unfortunates among us can do without, especially in the health area. It seems to me that cutting taxes in Washington, especially for corporations and very high wage earners, doesn’t help the majority of our people at all.

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Folks, you better hold on to your wallets and purses. They are at it again. The Fair Tax supporters are telling us how much better off we would be to pay a tax of 22-27 percent on every dollar we spend instead of paying that bad old income tax. Think about this. How many people actually pay 22-27 percent federal tax after all deductions are taken? What they are advocating will cost the average American big bucks. Just think, your money that you have already paid tax on and saved for retirement will be taxed again when you spend it. Your Social Security, IRAs and all other retirement savings will be taxed at the same rate. They say that corporations don’t pay taxes anyway so they will just do away with corporate taxes. So, these corporations that don’t pay taxes will reduce prices (because of tax reductions) so much that you will be able to buy their products cheaply enough to actually save your 22-27 percent in lower costs. I want this in writing. Also remember, state taxes will be there to add to the 22-27 percent. As an incentive for us little people, we will receive a rebate check monthly based on the government poverty level to reimburse us for our taxes paid to that level. The only ones I see that will save money from this plan are a few individuals who are already wealthy and just want to get a lot wealthier. These plans sound a lot like the natural gas service deregulation scam that was put over on Georgians a few years ago. Look at your bill. In many months the service fees now exceed what your total bill was prior to this wonderful deregulation. Telephone service is touted as a good example of what deregulation can do for (to?) the consumer. A few years ago, my phone bill was half of what it is now. It included long distance access, unlimited directory assistance, you could make and receive collect calls free of additional charges (other than the long distance fee), the phones and wiring were maintained by the phone company at no charge. Look at what you have now. Anytime you require anything other that a simple phone call, there is a fee added on. Most of these fees are not small. Try to find a list of the fees. Almost impossible! I guess they are ashamed. Or maybe they want you to find out on your monthly bill. We have to start being more vocal and let our politicians know that we are not going to just sit back and let these things happen any more.

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Residential city pride is at an all time high! “We are the most educated ... in the state.” A number of demographic studies certainly show this not to be the case. Check your records for areas that compare favorably, as well as above “we.” How about the fact that high school grads outnumber college grads by over half? In any case, much of Georgia cannot show close to a 50 percent education rate, college or high school, and that is hardly a condition of which to be proud.

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Integrity: Adherence to a code of values, incorruptibility. Where has it gone? Certainly, our city government leaders do not have this character trait. They may have once possessed it, but they have lost it while gaining political macho power. This is in response to last week’s comments regarding Rapson, Weed and Brown. The Peachtree City Tourism board (including past board members Salvatore and Rapson), City Council, and the mayor need to reassess themselves. They are representing us PTC taxpaying citizens. These officials condone the crass and employee harassing behavior of the PCTA executive director. These officials have forgotten they are employers.

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1-26-05

So I’m reading the Free Speech from the Jan. 12 edition and something struck me as very interesting. Several people had comments for the person that was mad about the parade but one in particular caught my attention. Someone was upset and told the writer of this particular Free Speech, ”Take off your hood and sheet, don’t believe the hype and send your next communication to the letter section and sign your name if you are proud,and stand behind your comments.” The ironic thing was that this was also sent in to the Free Speech, not the letter section, of the paper and no signature was attached to that letter either. So for starters I might advise you to practice what you preach.

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Contrary to your specified guidelines the comments appearing in Free Speech are neither “pithy” or “short.” Just some more of the long-winded pap appearing elsewhere.

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Let freedom ring! We need district voting in Fayette County just like every single county around us. What is the good old boy, barbecue, bedsheet crowd afraid of? We respect Fayette natives.We are Americans too and we deserve a fair vote. If the good old boys insist on continuing back-room decision-making then the federal government will make Fayette do it. District voting now!

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Someone wrote that the NAACP is not a black or an African American organization. In fact, NAACP stands for “National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.” They claim that “the forces of racism and retrogression in America are again on the rise” and that “many of the hard-earned civil rights gains of the past four decades are under assault.” They may be correct. But, this time the assailants are more cunning than ever. They are masquerading as victims. Unless we stop the resentment, intolerance and hostility, then all the progress that has been made will be progress made in futility. The “Negro” is no longer crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. In fact, the days of “Negro” are long gone and so is the need to label people based on the color of their skin. Chances are that the “African American” living next door has never even been to Africa. We are one people. Americans. Plain and simple. We share the same civil rights, including the right to vote. We attend the same schools, eat in the same restaurants, stay at the same hotels and shop at the same stores. We are friends, family, coworkers and neighbors. Yet, there are a few who want re-segregation, a few bigoted hypocrites who promote their self-serving, political agendas by screaming allegations of racism while they demand separation, special treatment and subjugation. Dr. King did not want people to seek their inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness through bitterness and hatred. He wanted people to be judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin. So, let’s recognize that an angry, bitter, hateful person with a sense of exclusive entitlement is a bigot. And, a bigot with dark skin is just as evil and vicious as any other.

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Re: NAACP Having a Parade for Benito Juarez, Mahatma Gandhi. Thank you for your wonderful suggestions! This is certainly something that can happen with your help. Are you a member? If not, I urge you to do so and also spearhead a parade (as you have mentioned) for Benito Juarez, Mahatma Gandhi, and others. Your suggestions are welcomed; however, as in any organization, you must be an active, participating member to have a voice or make things happen. Membership is affordable at only $30 annually which also includes a magazine subscription. You may join online at www.naacp.org or come to the meetings (which are announced in the local paper) each month. We welcome you and others in becoming a member and bringing positive ideas and suggestions. We are comprised of many nationalities and ethnicities.

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OK, we’ll pray for Steve Brown. Please God, keep him talking and writing. That hole he’s digging for himself gets deeper each day.

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I’m a bit confused, was it citizen Steve Brown or Mayor Steve Brown who spoke against the SPLOST on Comcast? Because Comcast definitely put up the title “Mayor” Steve Brown. So I was a bit surprised when he (that is Mayor Brown, I think) stated in The Citizen that it was citizen Brown who spoke. That Comcast called “him” (mayor or citizen?) up to do a rebuttal. Was he called at City Hall or home? And if they were just seeking random input from citizens, why didn’t they call me? At least there is no confusion as to whether I am the mayor or just a citizen. And this confusion isn’t new. I remember not long ago how “Citizen” Brown negotiated an annexation plan with Wieland Homes. Do you think Wieland Homes knew they were negotiating with just another “citizen”? And when the idea that the city should review the annexation moratorium and allow the entire city staff and council to review this proposal was brought up, did Mayor Brown not have a little “extra” information provided by citizen Brown to the mayor outside of “earshot” of the other council members? And when Mayor Brown voted on this proposal, did he get any added “pressure” from citizen Brown to try and influence his “unbiased” vote? So herein lies the confusion. Brown stated in his letter to the editor that his “crime was going to the Comcast studio and issuing an equal time comment as a private citizen.” Yet in the same issue the front-page articles states, “He defended his anti-SPLOST broadcast as doing part of his job as mayor.” No wonder I am confused. Even Mayor Brown doesn’t know when he is Citizen Brown, and citizen Brown doesn’t know when he’s Mayor Brown. Suppose Wieland Homes or Comcast, or anyone else, could tell the difference? Citizen Brown, who made his fame by constantly attacking the former mayor and council, seems to have become Mayor Brown who, although he believes in free speech, thinks only free speech supporting him should be allowed. Maybe Steve Brown ought to get a hat. On one side it can say mayor and on the other side it can say citizen. Then he can just switch it around and we will know which voice is coming out of his head. That, of course, is assuming HE knows which voice is talking.

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I read the Peachtree City State of the City address on the city Web site this weekend and it was fantastic. The quality of our city government has drastically improved. I would ask that the print size of the address be enlarged so that it is easier to read for our older citizens.

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Lenox, you are no longer mayor, your term is up. Will you and your Secret PAC members get on with your lives? The citizens of Peachtree City are tired of your attacks on our current mayor and City Council. If I wanted to attract candidates to run for mayor and council I would set a good example and support the mayor and council. Why would any candidates want to run? They would probably fear attack by Secret PAC as happened to candidates in our last council election. For PTC to be a functional city we need to all grow up and move on; your dysfunctional attacks and behavior must stop.

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I am concerned about the future of the TDK extension. From what I’ve read and seen, Mayor Brown signed an agreement with Fayette County to deliver final plans and secure rights of way for the new road. He’s obligated the city to do that. Now, he says that he not in favor in spending any more money because the city has spent in excess of $500,000. In my opinion, the city has gotten out cheap. Both Fayette and Coweta counties are spending in excess of $1 million each on construction. So, if Mayor Brown believes in doing the right thing for his citizens and keeping his word, why won’t he honor his agreement and support funding the final design work for the road? His citizens will benefit the most from his actions. If he chooses not to complete the road, then people who work in the city and live elsewhere should have their voices heard. If you support the road and are tired of Ga. Highway 54 traffic, don’t shop in Peachtree City. Newnan, Tyrone and Fayetteville have fine shops, and your tax dollars won’t support a regime that neglects you.

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Mayor Brown has consistently fought for traffic improvements to help us. Why aren’t we taking action? His state of the city speech was right on the mark. We ought to require the City Council to live at CedarCroft for a week to see how it feels.

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Direct PAC members are the neighbor of ex-city attorney Jim Webb, the best friend and next-door neighbor of former Mayor Bob Lenox, Bob Lenox’s former landlord in Westpark Walk (they also shared an office building), a land developer whose office is no longer in Peachtree City but in Conyers. These guys will do what Michael Moore did for President Bush. Every time I read a letter from Lenox or an article about Direct-PAC, I not only want to vote for Mayor Brown for a second term, I want to be his campaign manager and donate generously to his campaign.

We dearly love our Pastor,

And we liked her antique tractor.

It was decorated with bright lights

During the holiday nights.

Yes, we have thought about it twice.

Wow! That tractor looked nice!

Come and visit Inman UMC,

And there you will see,

Warmth in our hearts we have to share.

We hope to see you there!

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I am 8 years old. And I helped decorate that tractor in my pastor’s yard. I think it was cute. What did you give your pastor for Christmas? Megan

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As a homeowner in Pendleton subdivision in Tyrone I would like to ask the city of Tyrone to get the septic lines in Handley Field checked by a competent engineer to make sure they will not affect Lake Pendleton. After the eye-opening comment last week on the construction at the field, this needs to be an issue. Homeowners are tired of having our lake become the retention pond for surrounding building sites. FYI: this lake feeds into Lake Peachtree which I believe is a water source for citizens in the county. Peachtree City citizens, take note of what is flowing into your lake. Don’t count on Tyrone to monitor it for you.

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Interesting the TYBA is having difficulty with Tyrone Town Manager Barry Amos in getting the baseball fields ready for spring play. I think the baseball association would like to know that Amos has taken the Shamrock Park baseball fields off the Georgia and National register as a park and transferred it to Handley (Wetlands) Park. I think the TYBA would also find it interesting that Amos and Mayor Sheryl Lee are interested in putting a library in the Shamrock Park. I guess that is why the TYBA cannot use their concession stand at Shamrock park and why the park (the center attraction for recreation in Tyrone) looks like a cesspool. I think the citizens of Tyrone would also like to know that Mr. Amos took the park off the state and national parks register without knowledge to the county. Mr. Amos, Mayor Lee and Council, the Fayette County Commission owns the park. How can you take something off a state and national register without owning it? Did you misrepresent your information?

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I keep hoping the Tyrone city government has risen to its highest level of incompetency and can’t possible do any more harm. Then it comes out about the facility at Handley Field. How can you put restrictions on this after the piece of work called the community center was thrown together? You should be ashamed.

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To the Waffle House snob: Do you actually know what foie gras is? It’s the unnaturally enlarged liver from a goose or duck that has been caged and force-fed over a 5-month period. The birds are not permitted to excercise and, combined with the overeating, this creates a huge, fatty liver. After the bird is slaughtered, the liver is then baked. Voila: foie gras. Mmmm! I’ll consider what I am missing next time I order grits at Waffle House.

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To the Waffle House snob: I didn’t coin this phrase, but I agree with it, and I agree with it even more now that I have read what you most recently submitted. By the way, if Tyrone does get a WH, you are not obligated to eat there. It’s called freedom of choice.

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An article on the front page of the Jan. 20 “Fayette Neighbor” discussed yet again the proposed rezoning of Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church. If approved by the City Council, the rezoning will allow the church to sell its property to Walgreens for the construction of a drugstore. One of the points made in the article was that the vote within the church to pursue the sale of the property “passed by an 80 percent margin.” No further details were given. It turns out that the actual vote of the membership was 268 in favor, 63 opposed (331 total votes), which yielded the 80 percent margin figure. Why should the exact vote tally be of any interest? For one thing, the level of turnout may well be significant to some because it reveals that only 331 votes were cast out of a reported membership of 1,800 to 1,900. Thus, less than 20 percent of the membership participated in what was probably the most important decision the church has had to make since its establishment over 25 years ago. Maybe this is typical of how hard it is for churches to get their membership to participate in making hard decisions in this day and age. In any event, hope this helps to clarify what was meant by “passed by an 80 percent margin”.

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Only one side of the Peachtree City tennis center controversy has been getting out so far, including a profile of the out-going director in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The tennis center was not really a big family, but rather a small clique of members who benefited from a staff that served them well, at the expense of the rest of the membership. With a few exceptions, the pros benefited from an excellent physical property, an ideal customer base, and little competition for members. They had group health and retirement benefits that few centers could match. The director of tennis and select professionals ran the tennis center as if it were there own private academy, preferring to focus on a few talented juniors in pursuit of national rankings. The rest of the students subsidized this training, with the pros getting a guaranteed stream of income from the other members. Go to the free tennis facilities here in the city and county, and see how many members have left, to avoid the high fees and petty favoritism of the staff. We have a beautiful facility here in the city. Give the new management a chance to demonstrate their ability to make improvements in service and value.

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Look out, here comes King Bob, breathing fire

Epistle to the Editor

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Well, the pirates of Peachy City are returning to get their spoils. Old Captain Bob “I Own This City” Lenox has come out like a volcano, spewing out hot gases with his tongue on fire.

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Batten down the hatches and prepare for more insulting torpedoes from Volcanic Bob and his “In-Direct” PAC!

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Wielding the sword of arrogance and hiding behind the shield of ego, he’s ready to board our ship on the starboard bow.

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Along with his First Mate Fred “Developer’s Buddy” Brown, Captain Volcanic Bob will cast all our men, women and children into Lake Peachy without a lifeboat in order to regain what was rightfully his.

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Meanwhile, “Emperor” Greg Dunn is devising another evil plot to keep the villagers away from their tax dollars. Unfortunately, the Emperor’s stooges are not cooperating.

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Linda “Bottom Of The” Wells gave him the verbal backhand last month for foolish spending. This month Herb “Curly” Frady issued him a kick to the groin by questioning the Emperor’s leadership ability and refused to vote for him as Chair-Emperor-man.

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It looks like it won’t just be the High Sheriff and Peachy City Council continuing the battle against the Emperor in 2005. Emperor Dunn wears no clothes and it ain’t a pretty sight.

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The “In-Direct” PAC, with 30 members and no brain, will now begin trying to decode Mayor “Cheery” Brown’s State of the Peachy City Address.

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What did the mayor, who can’t write anything in less than 10 pages, really mean when he said that relief is needed for about 9,000 residents on the west side of Peachy City?

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What does “The bank had exhaustive knowledge” suggest? Why no mention of Stuart “Difficult Last Name” K?

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Certain one-celled organisms could out-score the entire “In-Direct” PAC on an IQ test so it will be exciting to hear their reply. It’ll take a while for them to get their response out. To make an “In-Direct” PAC member laugh on a Saturday, you’ll have tell them the joke on Wednesday. They aren’t very bright.

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The newspaper had a real zinger on the front page. The headline read, “Finances still a concern for DAPC.”

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Unless $2 million falls out of the sky or a loaded Brinks truck takes a wrong turn down Bob “I Own This City” Lenox’s driveway, they’ll always have a problem. Maybe we’ll see another earth-shattering headline like, “Earth still revolves around the sun” in next week’s paper.

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Here we go with the voter redistricting talk again. Representative Virgil Fludd’s proposal is easy to understand. He wants to change the county district lines so that “Emperor” Greg Dunn is an at-large candidate in Clayton County.

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Who could blame him? This issue is like a high-pressure turbine about to come off the combustion chamber.

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The townies are on the verge of a revolt against the T-Town Council because they’re being denied quality waffles. The Waffle House refused to make their waffles in the shape of a shamrock and got the boot.

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Please T-Town Council! Give ’em one more try!

Buster

The Bard of Braelinn

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‘King Bob, Old Guard’ are complimentary terms

Last week’s Free Speech column was certainly awash with references to King Bob, alluding to former Mayor Bob Lenox, and the Old Guard, referring presumably to anyone who has lived here longer than Steve Brown.

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Mayor Brown and his toadies seem to think that King Bob and Old Guard are pejorative terms but they are, in fact, highly complimentary.

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Kings are intelligent, strong-willed leaders of men who have vision and the strength, courage and integrity to create better worlds no matter what the opposition.

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King Bob might be arguably appropriate.

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Old Guards are men and women of wisdom, accomplishment and honor who serve their fellow citizens without thought of reward. They are the backbone of any successful community and constantly replenish themselves by welcoming into their ranks all who share their ideals.

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King Bob ran for mayor three times and was elected three times. He served for 10 years. His predecessor, Fred Brown, was elected five times and also served for 10 years.

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Fred Brown, King Bob, Pathway Communities and the Old Guard created the Peachtree City we all love, the Peachtree City we all know to be one of the very best places in the world to live.

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I am one of the Old Guard and proud of it. I have lived here for over 25 years and have contributed to making this a wonderful place.

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I am tired of being insulted by Steve Brown who tries to claim the credit for everything, disparages all the efforts of others, and has yet to actually accomplish anything to make life discernibly better for everyone in our community.

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I have chosen the Free Speech column because it affords me anonymity. Steve Brown brooks no criticism. He attacks the character, integrity and morality of all who disagree with him.

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I do not wish to be subjected to this kind of attack. I intend to write to this column regularly for I have many observations about Steve Brown that need to be aired.

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I would like to hear from you if you have observations or specific facts you would like me to air on your behalf. You will also be anonymous.

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I would additionally like to solicit your help in coming up with a suitable sobriquet for Steve Brown. You know, sort of a counterpoint to King Bob.

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To protect my anonymity and still be available for your comments and input, I have retained Rick Lindsey as my attorney for this purpose. He will transmit my items to Free Speech, which I promise will be shorter in the future. He will also receive e-mails on my behalf and forward them to me.

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Simply address any e-mail to me to rlindsey@webb-firm.com and put Old Guard on the subject line.

Next week I’ll choose that nickname from the suggestions I receive and make my first observation. Look forward to hearing from you.

Anonymous

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Jan. 19, 2005

Before we get all bent out of shape on accepting a fabricated crisis of the Social Security system, have some CPA-types analyze the full financial affect of the total amount of President Bush’s program and calculate the “the advisory management fees” for handling the private accounts. After that is all done, how many billions of dollars do you think are annually going to flow to scams and predators who will cheat good hard-working citizens out of their private investments? Let’s lay all of this out on the table beforehand, and act prudently before we cave into any suggestions that the present system is “busted.” Once we get a grip on the reality of the hidden issues, then we may see who is really driving the initiative as laid our by Bush.
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I will try to make this brief since I know you will get a ton of complaints to one of your writer’s wanting to eliminate Free Speech. Sounds funny doesn’t it: a writer eliminating free speech? I won’t defend the prejudiced person who wrote the thing the “writer” didn’t like. It was dumb. But, still, he has a right to say it. Is this writer trying to pretend that they don’t hear this kind of thing in this area often? It is just that many people look over their shoulder and around before they say it; they don’t publish it. At least I have run into it numerous times, hundreds of times, in my lifetime. Maybe if more of us were more honest about our deep feelings in public, these terrible racial problems would be solved more quickly. They haven’t been solved in the last 140 years since the Civil War. They have been improved but certainly not solved. I think this writer must have some other complaints with what is written in Free Speech, like a church movement, to so vehemently propose dropping the column. I think I have read this person’s column a few times and maybe it would be missed less than Free Speech. However, I do hope they will be allowed to fence with the publisher without getting fired.

Long live free speech!
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I saw where you told Sallie S. that you had to print everything you got. However, I have had people tell me that you DID NOT print some of their correspondence, especially if about the war. Really, if we allow these current near-idiots in this administration to continue the Iraqi war after it has been proven that their reason for 1,200 American deaths, 11,000 casualties, and maybe 100,000 Iraqi deaths did not exist, then we are all fools. Admit the terrible mistake, get out, and let them have at it. The sanctions were working and we know it and we knew it then. Saving George Bush’s future means absolutely nothing if it saves one more life over there.
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Please wear your seat belt. All three [recent Fayette] traffic fatalities resulted from not wearing seat belts.
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When I read The Citizen, I’d like to read the news, not a story on the front page about Father Epps’ toenails and puke.
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Very interesting letter from Cary Dial. Cary, you never met a developer you didn’t like. Did you not know the job paid $25 a month? A change in the land use map here, there, everywhere. Glad you are gone. Who’s next?
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Direct PAC has gone over the irritating top, again. I had to explain this to my neighbor that moved here two years ago. It all started when Steve Brown revealed the former city attorney’s business relationships with local developers in town. The scoundrels got revenge and sued Steve and his family. That was the first time that I ever contributed to a legal defense fund and wrote a letter to a newspaper. Brown won his First Amendment battle and City Attorney Jim Webb was replaced. Next, King Bob Lenox had the mayor arrested on state charges and the judge said that King Bob was wrong. A lot of us asked Steve to sue King Bob for wrongful arrest and he refused to do it. Instead, he just went along serving his citizens. Once again, Mayor Steve, the one that fights for us, will have to pay more legal fees out of his pocket to fight these idiots. The only real conclusion for why they keep trying to wear Steve down in the courts and elsewhere is that they can’t win at the City Council meetings. Their timely attempt to harm Steve’s reputation is an obvious ploy to prevent him from running for mayor again. We support you, Steve, and don’t stop fighting for us. We do appreciate you and please consider running again.
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D.I.R.E.C.T. PAC: Dangerous, Imbeciles, Ruining, Everything by Cheap-shots and Tomfoolery.
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I almost choked on my breakfast when I read in the paper that the Direct PAC bunch is filing ethics charges against Steve Brown. He has taken so much harassment over the years from the dark side for being financially accountable. The guy was taking a stand and defending what he believed in and the censorship mongers from the Direct PAC keep trying to shut him up. The Bob Lenox blight on this town has been awful. Lenox didn’t have much of a legacy going when he left office and now he’s ruining what little remains. We didn’t fight in wars around the globe so that the PAC could trample on our First Amendment rights. Thank you, Steve Brown, for putting up with the garbage that they throw at you and still being a class act.
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I apologize to the City Council for the nasty people that always bother them. Please keep up the good work. I can’t afford a half-page paid advertisement in the newspaper like Direct PAC does. I have to work for a living. Instead of eradicating Mr. Weed, Mr. Rapson and Mr. Brown, we should spray Round-Up on the obnoxious Direct PAC and see if that horrible plague on our city will die off.
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What do I tell a mayor that gets tried and condemned by a political action committee for fighting for the taxpayers of this county? I say, “Please run again in 2005!” Everybody is so sick of the tyrants of the past constantly spreading rumors and throwing up barriers. The mayor has got to have a stomach made out of iron to put up with all the crap they keeping throwing at him. I agree with the man that said he finally feels like someone on the City Council represents the average homeowner. It would be nice if Bob Lenox and the Direct PAC crawled back under their rock and disappeared.

The newspapers had said that the Fayetteville City Council passed a resolution in favor of the SPLOST and that Steve Brown refused to do a resolution because it was against state law. The self-righteous Direct PAC decided to go after Brown because he spoke on a Comcast community channel that no one ever watches. The Fayetteville City Council deliberately acts in a government role and the Direct PAC bullies the guy who made a comment on a privately owned cable channel. Is the Direct PAC hypocritical or are they stupid? The Bard was right about the Direct PAC, “30 members and no brain.” The person that consistently defends the state law ends up getting slammed. This is another reason to support U.S. Senator John McCain and his movement to abolish political action committees.
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Will someone please tell us who the Direct PAC members are? I live in Tyrone and it angers me to see Mayor Brown attacked by the former mayor and this other group. My daughter plays in the Peachtree City Youth Soccer program and I was shocked to see Mayor Brown coaching one of the girl’s teams. The man invests a lot of time in the community and I agree with almost everything that he proposes. Our prayers go with you, Steve. Thanks for all that you do.
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If the local multimillionaires don’t quit hatching up schemes to get rid of our mayor and win the next mayoral election, we should just make the mayor’s job honorary only and run it like the county government’s setup. Or, hire professionals to run the town who can be fired at will by a majority vote of the council (no buyouts, etc.). We have simply got to get some government here in Peachtree City who don’t have money to make here or friends to protect. This dirty PAC thing is stupid and probably illegal; I don’t care which group runs one. We can’t have a town where only part of the citizens can afford to play golf or tennis and buy season tickets to the Amphitheater. The home taxes and the SPLITS in abundance are easy to pay for the people over $125,000 per year, but President Bush may not be able to continue the tax cuts they get forever. And just what do our policemen, firemen, city workers, factory workers, clerks, waitresses, house cleaners, and laborers do for a place to live? High earners have always had to leave town everywhere to spend money in excess of a living wage.
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Words cannot express my disappointment with the Fayette Sheriff’s Department. When that violent criminal escaped, the sheriff should have warned the community. Instead, they sat back and did nothing. They said they prepared a “press release” but held it back and did not tell the media. At a minimum, they should have immediately gone door to door in the neighborhood and warned the community. A dangerous criminal with no money will steal (or worse) and they should have warned us as soon as it happened. It sounds like those folks are more worried about job security than public safety.
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Note to Fayette County High School: the Recreation Department has the right to use the gym at Lafayette Center (old FCHS) after 6 p.m. on weeknights. They pay a hefty sum for that right. Now honor your part of the deal and get your programs out.
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Since the NAACP is, as stated, “a civil rights organization composed of many nationalities and ethnic groups,” when will the Fayette chapter have a parade for Mexican President Benito Juarez, Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, etc.?
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About Photocircuits layoffs: It seems that information is printed after the fact. For example, there are employees who are out on sick leave that were not notified about labor board visitations or even told when and if a job fair will be held. Can The Citizen find out and print this information in advance? The only way some can get information about what is going on is through the rumor mill.
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The Citizen sunk to the low of tabloid journalism when it published the tirade by Mr. David Burnett. Apparently one does not have to give the facts and truths of things to get a letter published. There were glaring errors and accusations bordering on slander. If Mr. Burnett wants to belittle most of Peachtree City government he should have to live in the city (he is a Fayette County resident and former tennis center member) and make sure he knows what really happened with the DAPC mess. Put the tennis center under the city’s recreation department where it should be. A tennis center is NOT that important in the big picture. Please, Citizen editor, get real. Let go of this mess and its small group of diehard members who refuse to recognize that errors were made, money was wasted and it is time to get beyond this fiasco.
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Finally someone is speaking the truth about what is going on at the tennis center, after 100 members showed up at a meeting and the board did not listen to them. Is the Tourism Board set up to be the voice of the people” or the voice of Steve Rapson? After the Tourism Board fired Sean Ferreira, the guy they hired quit seven days later. Who wants to go there when everyone is quitting.
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I would hope that ”paid advertiser” and “letter to the editor” writer David H. Burnett has better things to do with his money than pay for a half-page advertisement in The Citizen. Then again, I guess he doesn’t because he thinks it’s perfectly all right for Peachtree City citizens to pay for $1 million in debt incurred by a seriously dysfunctional and badly managed Development Authority for a facility and expansion that the citizens were never allowed to vote on whether they wanted it or not. I’m laughing that there is anyone left in this county who still thinks that the Tennis Center was well-managed. David Burnett might have a different view if he was a Peachtree City resident. Did he notice that all of the former authority members and the former tennis center manager resigned in shame? Did he notice how many of those people left town? Did he notice that the authority didn’t keep financial records? Did he notice that the tennis center is no longer bleeding red since the new tourism authority took over management? Did he notice that all of the 20-25 employees were offered jobs except for two people? I guess not, because he also missed that Steve Rapson was appointed to the tourism authority for a one-year term that ended in December. He served that term with the same professionalism and integrity that he has displayed in all aspects of his public service. David Burnett also missed that the authority defaulted on all of their payments to all of their creditors for many months before finally dumping the tennis center and amphitheater on the city, broke and in debt. Because he’s not a Peachtree City resident, he must have missed the Peachtree Citizen that reported that a federal judge ruled that Steve Rapson’s wife’s lawsuit was not frivolous and that she had presented the court with evidence that supported her lawsuit. Here’s the hidden agenda and insecure ego of David Burnett: he’s just mad that now he has to find a new tennis coach for his kids. News flash: the tennis pros at the Peachtree City Tennis Center are among the best in the country and your kids could learn a lot from their ability to adapt to positive changes.
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In regards to the paid advertisement that has been running in the paper on the Tennis Center, someone is being mislead. 1. Mr. Rapson and Weed’s agenda was to fix how the center operates, which they have done with countless hours of hard work. 2. Mr. Rapson’s wife did not sue the city but the DAPC. 3. The same judge who said it shouldn’t go to trial also ruled later that it wasn’t frivolous. 4. These legal fees weren’t paid by the DAPC and are still owed to the attorneys. 5. These legal fees are not nor ever will be paid by the city. 6. Mr. Rapson didn’t resign as chairman; his term was up. 6. The man writing the article is upset Sean wasn’t hired; he’s coached his son for the past six years and he doesn’t even live in Peachtree City. 7. The majority of membership at the center are not Peachtree City residents and want the citizens to help support the facility. He really should either do some research or read the paper.
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This is getting ridiculous with the chosen few trying to buy our city council members out of office. The Bard was on the mark with saying that the “In-Direct” PAC wants to purchase people who think exactly like they do. Now David Burnett is issuing paid advertisements disguised as letters to the editor. He does not even live in Peachtree City. Is he a real estate developer? Mr. Burnett is living proof that you can get a bunch of false statements in the newspaper as long as you pay for the space. The part about Virgil Christian’s “performance-based incentives that allowed his dynamic vision, talent, goals, and dreams of building one of the best public tennis facilities in the nation” is laughable. Virgil’s actions left the development authority with almost $2 million in debt and no rent for the pro shop; how dynamic. Now Mr. Burnett, who does not pay Peachtree City taxes, thinks that the city taxpayers should foot the bill for Virgil’s dynamic vision. Please do not come back to Peachtree City, Mr. Burnett, and take your arrogant friends with you.
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Mr. David H. Burnett does not live in Peachtree City and is not a member of the tennis center there. He also will not be voting in the next Peachtree City election that Steve Brown, Steve Rapson and Murray Weed should win easily. They represent the people of the city and the people know it and appreciate it. Keep up the good work. Mr. Burnett needs to go crawl back under his rock.
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Just felt like giving you a progress report for the concession stand being built at Handley Park In Tyrone. This is (supposed to be) a joint effort between the town of Tyrone and the Tyrone Youth Baseball Association (TYBA) where a pre-determined cost was split between each party and TYBA does all of the work. TYBA board members Gary Mercer and Scott Bodkin are working double time to keep this project rolling toward completion and operational at the season opener March 26. There was a minor delay with the slab being poured as the town manager misread the prints and had the plumbing installed wrong but Gary and Scott had the plumbing re-installed correctly and the slab is complete. Block work should begin any day now and some very expensive electrical work will follow. A progress meeting between the two parties last week revealed some bad news. The town has mandated some changes in the plans that are going to put the project over budget. One quarter of the project cost is for a special metal roof that the town is requiring. The town has strict regulations as to appearance so that nobody can come to Tyrone and just throw up a utility building in the middle of town (similar to their Recreation Center). The next problem is that the septic system has to be rerouted because all of a sudden there are concerns over Lake Pendleton that were never considered in the past year of planning. There is another minor issue that won’t halt progress but is well worth noting. The town and TYBA have some disagreement between a sign to be placed on the completed project. TYBA wants to create a sign thanking all of the businesses and individuals who donated materials and manpower outside of the organization; the town wants to thank themselves and TYBA. TYBA will work through these snags with dedicated help from within their organization. Over budget is new to TYBA but quite common for most projects involving the town. TYBA has solicited material donations and manpower from various businesses operating in or from Tyrone that were supposed to keep this project under budget. If you feel that your business or yourself can contribute to this project, please contact the Tyrone Town Hall as they are running the show. Or, stop by the park some day and speak to Gary or Scott as they are the ones making it happen. Don’t expect to see the mayor or Town Council there working; they just want credit for the finished project. In fact, Paul Letourneau has already given credit for the project to themselves in pre-election support letter to Mayor Sheryl Lee.
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The “Waffle House snob” would like to reply to her accuser. Actually, when I eat out it’s always casual and NOT French dinners in Buckhead as you seem to believe. Most of the time it IS on the Southside unless I happen to be up on the northside. You’re missing my point that Tyrone is in the perfect position to be different. Waffle House is not different and there are several within a stone’s throw of here. WH is just a place to “fill up” cheaply. Gas and go. No detailing. You understand that, don’t you? The food is passable but wouldn’t it be nice to have a little higher quality? For heaven’s sake, even Dunkin’ Donuts sells lattes and McDonald’s is about to upgrade their coffee! I’ve been fortunate to have eaten all over the world. Barbeque joints in Texas, croissants in Paris, wiener schnitzel in Austria, Peking duck and snake soup in Hong Kong, lobster in Maine, sourdough bread in San Francisco. And I believe there are many other people around here with similar experiences. Perhaps your basis for comparison is more limited. Trust me, WH is is way down there. Oh, as for your comment that you’d rather the drunks at 3 a.m. that I had referred to be sobering up at WH than out on the roads, excuse me, but how do you think they’re going to get there in the first place? Walk? So once again I say, “You go, Tyrone City Council!” You’re doing the right thing. And to my accuser, you obviously don’t know your grits from your foie gras.
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I am writing because some people in this world need a very basic lesson in economics. When someone provides a service for you, usually the one receiving the service provides something in return. In contemporary society, this tends to be money. As the older sister of a young entrepreneur in Fayette County, I am thoroughly appalled at how grown, seemingly-responsible adults cannot or will not provide payment for the work my brother performs for them. How pitiful do three “adults” have to be to cheat a high schooler out of almost $1,500 in payments? And certainly you aren’t destitute at this point if you live in a golf community and can afford to hire out external workers (for example, my brother) to provide services for your fancy home. Here’s a quick tip. If you can’t afford a service someone provides, you should not ask them to do the work. Period. Do the responsible thing, and don’t take advantage of the niceness of a kid. He might just be a high school student, but he does have his own financial responsibilities. Sit back and think about how you would feel if your boss decided he just didn’t feel like paying you $1,500. Now imagine if you’ve asked your boss several times for payment, or you received a few bad checks from him. Not so fun, is it?
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Just had to vent for a minute. Am I wrong or does anyone else agree with me that a tractor with Christmas lights all over it is not very fitting for a pastor’s home? How tacky. Why not a manger, or a cross lit up? This was in front of a Methodist church here in Fayetteville. You may have thought it cute or funny but perhaps you should have had second thoughts!
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U.S. District Judge Clarence Cooper must believe in evolution since he has prohibited the Cobb County school system from telling students that it’s only an unproven theory. I wonder if he thinks his great-great-great-great-grandparents were gorillas, orangutans or just common tree monkeys?
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At Peachtree City’s last meeting Councilman Murray Weed got into a legal debate with the city attorney about the Airport Authority giving $10,000 directly to the TDK architect. Mr. Weed demonstrated he is not smart enough to avoid a battle of wits when he is so obviously unarmed.
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When you think abortion, think of the mother caught in the tsunami wave who had to make the choice to let go of the hand of her 5-year-old child to keep the head of her 2-year-old child above the water. Her 5-year-old survived anyway, so she has talked about having to make that choice. Mothers of those who didn’t survive stay silent. While there are those who insist on holding on to both even if it means all going under, others choose to let go of one to make it possible for another to survive. Then the survivor must live with that decision. The small boy who let go of his two sisters’ hands and was the only survivor now lives with guilt, deserved or not. If you have never been faced with this kind of decision, consider yourself lucky; don’t condemn those who simply made the best choice they could with the resources available to them at the time. If you want to stop abortions, help make them unnecessary. Give women the support they need, financial, emotional, social (to successfully raise that child) so they feel able to keep the pregnancy they so often dream of but cannot afford to maintain without your help.
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I have been reading all the complaints about the PTC police department. Please, be glad you don’t live in the city of Fayetteville. Our police leadership is a joke. According to news reports, the police chief lied about his education and got away with it. He bullies citizens to show off and gets away with it. What next? I think he will keep doing this until someone stands up and does something about it.
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This is in response to the man stating that pursuing a career as an airline pilot “isn’t about courage.” First, it rarely takes less than 10 years to become an airline pilot. For most major airlines, you have to have a college degree, get your ratings, which takes most people years due to costs, and then you have to build flight time. It is a long process. Most people, faced, even with training, with a runway in front of them, solo, could not even fly around the traffic pattern in a Cessna. You have a family now and I agree, it’s better for you to sit at your office desk and throw paper airplanes at your wastebasket. It is not productive for you to spread misconceptions as a way to justify not “going for it” when you had the chance.

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Jan. 12, 2005