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See Free Speech for January 2005

See Free Speech for December 2004

See Free Speech for November 2004

See Free Speech for October 2004

See Free Speech for September 2004

See Free Speech for August 2004

See Free Speech for July 2004

See Free Speech for June 2004

See Free Speech for May 2004

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03-30-05

Since we have an excellent hospital now right here in Fayette County, although they don’t do babies, heart surgery, or brain surgery, it dawned on me recently that even so, they may have such decisions to make concerning prolonging one’s life by artificial means, as in the Terri Schiavo case. As I see it, any necessary gadget used to prolong a life over a long period of time is the same as any other gadget, except in the case of a temporary disability due to trauma, such as a temporary lung damage, where oxygen will aid the cure. Many doctors remove life support several times a day (each) at large hospitals and it doesn’t make the paper or TV. Such is life.

I have been extremely disturbed by the actions of this Schiavo case judge and others. This case has so many doubts in it. People on death row get better rights and more action when new evidence emerges. I think this judge is inhumane [and] uncompassionate. He does not care that he is the chief one upholding this state-supported murder by starvation. The Nazis did this and this is what many Americans fail to realize. Hitler and company drew on the rationale of the law to justify their actions against the Jews, the mentally retarded, the disabled, and others. We are going in the same direction. Everybody says we must go by the law. We do not realize that the laws we have created are sometimes immoral and pure evil as in this case.

A nation filled with healthy adults watches as others starve to death those that cannot care for themselves, and we mourn for Terri?

Now that religion and politics both have intermingled and polarized our country not only in elections, but in our justice system, we endlessly ask judge after judge if a person with spinal fluid for a brain is legally dead. Thousands of sick and old people die every day in the world due to not being able to eat or drink and they aren’t even scientifically dead. This often happens with cancer patients and other overwhelming diseases. Many of us who don’t even believe in capital punishment for crimes, and certainly not for ill people, do think mercy should be applied in the Schiavo case. Taking a perfectly healthy person’s life, as many desire in capital cases, as opposed to a brain-dead person, seems to me to be deceitful and political.

What’s going on with the commission districting bill is a whole lot more than what appears on the surface. Currently, we have five commissioners, all elected at large, all white. If we had to split our county into five geographical districts, most likely we would have at least one district that comprised all or part of the north side of the county. Being that the north side has a higher African-American population (one census district is 45 percent African-American) than the south side (several census districts are less than 5 percent African-American), there is the distinct possibility that a professional black citizen might attempt to run for the commission. He or she may very well win. It appears that state Rep. Dan Lakly is afraid of disrupting the delicate white ultra-conservative control of the county commission, and is not the least bit concerned about fairness for ALL Fayette voters. Oh, and in case you have forgotten already, Lakly is the same fruitcake who called the new statewide smoking ban “reminiscent of Nazi Germany.”

God bless state Rep. Dan Lakly for standing up for the rights of white people. Watching him use the legislature to defeat those uppity types who wanted district voting reminds us of better times past. Certain folks needed to be reminded of their place, and Mr. Lakly sure gave them a wake-up call. The South is rising again, thanks to the efforts of white patriots like Rep. Lakly.

The person who wrote last week that he’d vote for an independent who’d favor openness, thrift and honesty in government is seriously misinformed. Georgia Code section 21-2-170 makes it virtually impossible for anyone to run as an independent by requiring a petition signed by thousands of voters, with other restrictions. Thus the first dishonest act required of a candidate who would be independent is choosing a political party.

Unfortunately, elected officials do not respond to e-mail. Every activist organization I have worked with has instructed its members to write personal letters and send them via regular mail. With all this hoopla about technology leading us into the future, it still seems our elected officials have not caught on or they don’t care. This issue is truly bipartisan, because I have e-mailed both Democrats and Republicans that currently represent me or have represented me in the past. The only representative I have ever e-mailed and gotten a response from is Mac Collins (and he responded every time, sometimes with an e-mail and sometimes with a regular letter). But he’s not in office anymore, so, oh, well, back to the snail mail.

Did the same health care system or part of our society that produced Brian Nichols also produce Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer or the BTK killer? Were either of these gentlemen ever on Medicaid, WIC or used food stamps? Does being a member of the health care field qualify you to judge the head banging, gothic garbed, devil worshipping, RAVE attending crew who listen to the likes of Marilyn Manson, the same way you judge the vulgar and violent rap culture? It’s really a good thing we have a forum like this free speech column in this periodical or we would never have known those in the health care field did studies and analysis to determine who commits the most violent crimes in this country or study the perpetuation of dependent behavior. I doubt the news media refuses to report on the facts pointed out in your column because of fear of being labeled “racists.” Perhaps the news media recognizes the so-called facts in last week’s column are simply not FACTS. But, who am I to contradict someone in the health care field? They do in-depth analysis on this stuff.

A bridge over the railroad tracks from the western Peachtree City development onto Ga. Highway 74 to relieve some of the traffic from the Ga. highways 54-74 intersection is an absolute necessity. If the developer doesn’t build it, or pay to build it, it will be up to the taxpayers in general to build it very soon. A crossing competing with the trains for the right of way will produce crashes and unlimited horn blowing by the trains. Does anyone know how many trains cross that intersection in 24 hours? Many: I hear them. Also, the four-lane going through that area will be a speedway, even if many stop signs are installed. The kids there don’t need that. This is not an argument not to have the road. It is now a necessity since we messed up the access by building in there to start with, but we mustn’t waste money and do it wrong.

Since Mayor Steve Brown doesn’t have a real job, maybe the city should hire him to herd those goats he’s wanting to bring in to rid Peachtree City of kudzu. Of course, he would likely achieve the same level of success that he has in everything else he’s tried, and someone else would have to step in to round up the stray goats.

Spring has sprung and so has the kudzu. Mayor Brown finally said something that makes sense when the question of goats being used to stem the growth of kudzu was mentioned. ”I think we’ve got to look at it.” Please don’t just look at it. The council should change the ordinance on livestock, gather pertinent information now, find the resources and vote YES before the kudzu destroys more than the 40 acres currently identified.

In response to the Tour de Brooks bike race, I also think that it is unfair to clog our roads and have our cops directing the race rather than fighting crime. It’s not fair to the town of Brooks to have this race when there are many other places that this race could be held. Never is this race ever announced to the residents of Brooks and opening day of baseball season is always crowded enough. It would be okay if the bikers could race in such a way that cars could go around them. But NO, they ride the yellow line in the middle of the road and back traffic up for miles. Instead of the normal 30-minute ride home, it turns into an hour or more. I guess since Brooks is so small it always gets run over but this race is unfair to the town. We are a small town and we wish to remain that way.

Whistle blowers get fired, not because they are wrong, but because they speak up for injustice or dishonesty. When the contentions are factual, the only response is to attack the messenger. If the issue is debatable, the other side provides justifications for the actions in question. But when the assertions are factual, the only response is something like this, “We recognize that the accusations are unworthy of response.”

What’s with the “no personal lawn chairs” at the Brown Amphitheater for patrons choosing lawn area? Whose idiotic idea was this? Don’t blame it on the fairness of viewing range. Is the amphitheater trying to increase revenue by going into chair rentals now? What’s next: beach umbrellas and waiters?

As a taxpaying citizen of PTC, I am appalled at the shameful customer service behavior of the PTC Amphitheater at renewal of series tickets. They only allowed three customers in at time, then locked the door and closed the blinds. This went on the entire day. As one patron was leaving, she commented she heard the staff was told to stop the chit-chat with the customers and get on with selling tickets. How cold. Apparently, good customer service and our wonderful amphitheater concept has changed drastically in the wrong direction. What I’d like to know is where are the board members of the Tourism and City Council?

Does McIntosh High School screen its substitute teachers? It seems someone very inappropriate subbed for my child [recently], with some very bizarre and inappropriate behavior. Talks of Mafia, drug use, requesting female students to hold his hand, and to come to his home to help illustrate his book. Wake up, school officials. Who are you sending in to teach class?

Way to go, Whitewater High School. Congratulations, and job well done, Wildcats, for raising close to $10,000 for the Ambassadors Pennies for Patients Campaign. It’s a shame all y’all get is a little Free Speech clipping in the newspaper for this outstanding job, but that’s the way things are. It seems all the media and community cares about when it comes to WHS is what’s going wrong and what bad has happened. What a crying shame. I’m proud to be a Wildcat!

I have tried logically to determine what the difference is between President Bush’s plan of investing part of a person’s paycheck for Social Security into the stock market instead of putting the paycheck deduction into the treasury, or, leaving the Social Security deductions like it is for now. What the President proposes will require immediate borrowing by the government to replace the money given to Wall Street, and brokers, in the amount of trillions. If I understand it anyway, a person can never draw more from the combined reduced benefit and what the stocks earned than they would have earned on strictly Social Security. So, the only advantage would be to take whatever cash there is in the stock part, and draw a lesser amount monthly from SS.

I agree that it does not make sense for the elementary schools to begin so early and in turn let out so early. If most parents work until 5, why should students arrive at the bus stop at 2:30 or even earlier? As for the high school issue, and that it should prepare students for waking up earlier later in life, this I have to disagree with. One should not be primarily concerned with their own child at the expense of others. If you don’t want your child at the bus stop so early, then drop them off yourself.

Men only allowed at the Peachtree City Tennis Center? The last female pro quit last week. The Tennis Center is having its 10th anniversary bash with potluck, bring your own food and if you are a member it’s free. What a great deal. You would think for its 10th anniversary at least the Tourism Board would throw a big party and have it catered. Guess they aren’t bringing in the money like they said they were. Who wants to have a 10th anniversary party with people who haven’t worked there more than 10 months?

03-23-05

As a lifelong Republican, I have serious doubts about my ability or desire to continue to vote along party lines. Our party along with its inability to vote in a meaningful ethics law has become a sincere issue with my family. It seems that “business as usual,” what I considered to be a reason for voting against Democrats, has now become a reason for voting against Republicans. I would really embrace an independent that felt secrecy was a non-issue, that spending could be curtailed, that pay raises would a thing that deserved much consideration and that honesty would be paramount. Wishful thinking for sure. Our Governor has already lost my vote. Give me any other person that wants to open government and reduce spending and he/she will have my vote.

I am tired of all the dissension between races. We need to all get along. I long for the day we can converse and say to someone, “I was talking to this guy the other day,” instead of, “I was talking to this white guy or this black guy.” There has been too much emphasis placed on race: for example, The Million Man March, Black History Month, the Black National Anthem, FUBU (for us, by us clothing). There is no White History Month, nor is there a Million White Man March, nor is there anything but our cherished national anthem, and there are no clothing lines that say FWBW (for whites, by whites). If these things did exist, we would be called racists and bigots. Why then do all these other things exist? They only serve to widen the gap between the races.

The South is supposed to pride themselves in tradition; well, the junkyard on the corner of Jeff Davis and Ga. Highway 54 is just that. The man has been there longer than most developments in the area. There is no litter around his property. He keeps it clean. Drive into some of these fancy neighborhoods and that’s all you see on the streets and sidewalks; not to mention what can be found in just about every public shopping area. He sits on the corner daily, waving and smiling to people who pass his way, and makes no trouble for anyone. So, leave him alone! Remember, “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.”

To everyone who thinks the “Sanford and Son” place is an eyesore: Mr. Jordan has been in business in that same location for much longer than you have lived here. That used to be the first place anyone looked for something they needed instead of one of the big-box stores. He is one of few private businesses that has not been run out because of these stores. If you ever need something, just stop by and ask for it. One of the many people working there can tell you in a moment whether they have what you are looking for or not. You can’t get common courtesy at Lowe’s or Home Depot in Fayetteville much less decent service out of most of their staff. There are a few exceptions but they are not the rule.

Does anyone at the county ever bother to check their own Web site? Last time I heard Butch Hall retired three months ago from being the chief marshal. Guess what? He’s still listed on the marshal’s site as being the chief marshal. Also, who is the county agent? I think that listing is wrong as well. Taxpayers deserve better than this for their money. If wrong or outdated material is the best the county can do, it’s useless to have a Web site.

Please pass onto the DOT that IF they had done their work prior to starting work on the widening of Ga. highways 34 and 54, we MIGHT have a better route to come into Peachtree City and Fayette county to work. But they chose not to put a light at Rockaway Road so we could turn left safely onto Ga. Highway 74 North, and they chose not to create the extension of TDK for further assistance in coming in safely and quickly. Living just 10 miles from work and having it take me 40-45 minutes makes no sense to me either, but is the only way I can get here. I bet they would not ask the people going into Atlanta to please find another way to work, would they? Accordingly, if they had kept our money for our road extensions instead of expending them on the Olympic road extensions there probably would not be this problem now.

When I came to this city there was a food factory where The Avenue is now located, owned by a large food conglomerate, and a partially completed exercise gym located where Westpark Walk now sits. If someone would look up who owned the food factory corner when the large corporation sold it, and who bought the gym property on the opposite corner, I think you will learn who messed up the 54/74 intersection. The food corporation left because many of their long-service employees were about to vest in their pensions, and a bank owned the partially completed gym.

If a student was granted out of district status to attend Whitewater Middle School, he/she doesn’t automatically have a space granted at WHS. The parent/guardian has to process a request, with a reason, to the FCBOE; if space is available at the school, the student can attend desired school. When a student graduates the middle school, the process must begin again for the high school. Parents or guardians don’t “fool” anyone at the FCBOE; they don’t use voodoo or spells, either! The young men who are on the WHS baseball team earned their positions. They didn’t “take” the positions.

I was dismayed at your publishing the Free Speech article regarding a principal’s daughter in Fayette County making a soccer team. Did you take into account that some adult (and I use the term adult loosely) is attacking a child? I think it is very sad when a paper such as yours allows attacks on our youth because of who their parent is. Is it her fault that her parent chose to be a principal? Should she not be allowed to participate in athletics because of her parent’s position in the school? A public apology to this child is in order. Shame on you for allowing such nonsense in your paper.

I have been in contact with FCBOE about why elementary schools start school so early in the morning and high schools start last. I suggest high school starts first, then middle school, then elementary last. This allows our youngest children to get a little more much needed sleep and prepares our high schoolers for waking earlier in college and in life. The school board responded promptly to me saying that, first, time change has never been discussed in their meetings. Second, some research suggests that high schoolers’ brains function more efficiently later in the day. Could this be because our teenagers stay up too late on school nights because they know they don’t have to be anywhere in the morning until 8:45 a.m.? They need to be in bed earlier, start school earlier, and finish school earlier to get to after-school jobs. Our young children don’t need to stand at the bus stop at 7 a.m. when it’s still dark out.

The October break, which was presented several years ago, didn’t fly due to “fall sports.”

To the “many possibilities of Clayton County tag” writer: I want to apologize for giving you false information. It was not 95 percent of the 38 illegal students at FCHS from Clayton County. It was 95 percent of ALL 64 illegal students in our Fayette County schools were from Clayton County.

To the person who responded to the Clayton County tags being seen at many of our Fayette County tags with all the “endless possibilities”: in all reality, let’s be honest; they are slim possibilities. Let’s consider the fact that after the first month of the 2004-2005 school year, there were 64 students found to be out of Fayette County attending our schools. Thirty-eight of them were at FCHS and 95 percent of those 38 were Clayton County residents. Let the facts continue to speak for themselves.

To the people who are checking out all the car tags at the bus stops and the school parking lots: You are wasting your time. If you actually have a child in the Fayette County School System, you must prove your child’s residency every year. It is highly doubtful that anyone is “squatting” at our Fayette County schools. Here in our Utopian society of Fayette County there are many school children with alternative living arrangements. Also, another thought if you have recently moved to Fayette, you don’t have to automatically update the tag to say Fayette. I would really find something else to worry about if I were you. This is a form of road rage for which you should seek counseling.

The Development Authority had two attorneys, Mark Oldenburg and Doug Warner, that both practice state authority law and Peter Pfeifer wants us to believe that the DAPC’s not obeying state law on obtaining $1.5 million in debt to float operating expenses without a public vote is an innocent mistake? Should we also pay for the innocent mistakes at Tyco, Enron, WorldCom?

Since it apparently is impossible for our recreation department in Peachtree City to run a tennis center and the old development authority could only keep it going with a million-dollar-plus loan for operating expenses (read a place where several could make a lot of money working there and tennis players could be pampered by these people, who were subsidized by the million) it may be time to sell the tennis center and amphitheater and use hotel money for all of us and not just a few of us, [such as] a youth center, if our high ranking city employees weren’t afraid of responsibility, especially our police department. If all the lawyers and business men involved with the old development authority were to help work as hard for the town as they did the authority, and forget politics, we could do it.

Re: Lutheran Church and Walgreens: You make my case for me when you state the church has the right, like any other seller, to get the best price available. Any other seller would not have had tax-exempt status, and thereby saving thousands of dollars each year. You can’t have it both ways. As for the congestion there now on Sundays, this is a few hours one day of the week, and a day when traffic is lighter than the rest of the week with a policeman directing traffic. Imagine the congestion with two or more businesses located at this site all day long and no policeman. Walgreens stores might look good but what about whatever else goes in there? At present we have no idea what that would be. A bank? A service station? A fast food restaurant? Any of these would add tremendously to existing traffic problems. As previously stated, my agenda is to try to keep Peachtree City as congestion-free and safe as possible. What is yours?

I have come to realize that there is one time you can mix education and God in the same outside the home learning. Live on a golf course and hear how many times God’s name is mentioned ( more than in church on Sundays, I can assure you), then education when your child comes in and wants to know what those “other” words mean. Golfers, your voices carry loud in areas of the courses and so do your words. Be aware that God loves to hear his name, just not in vain!

“Downtown sewer, arts top Tyrone Council agenda”: Maybe someone needs to tell Barry Amos that it has already developed. I think new Hwy. 74 development is downtown Tyrone. Old Senoia Road developed with a cultural center. Why that would look real good next to the Confederate cemetery, the Disney monorail, old train car, old fire truck, an old fertilizer warehouse, the old brick Mason building, a real good blend with Founder’s Day. Mr. Amos wants the Virginia-Highland’s look: we already have it with the men’s only club. The only businesses that would hook onto sewer and pay their bill would be taxpayer-funded businesses, i.e., school, police, fire. Sounds like to me Town Manager Barry Amos wants some small mom and pop businesses and the taxpayers to bail out the sewer agreement with the multi-million dollar developer John Wieland.

Tyrone a cultural center!? Indeed! We already have all the culture we can stand. Or, maybe, a Jeff Foxworthy special appearance once in a while. With the unrestricted building and clear cutting on Hwy. 74, attracting people and businesses to downtown Tyrone and asking them to absorb the cost of a sewage system seems obscure at best. Development of the town’s center should have preceded the development of a major thoroughfare. It’s too late, folks.

I just read that Barry Amos thinks that Tyrone should be culture center of Fayette County. I think he may be on to something . My suggestion would be that we invite Jeff Foxworthy and the Blue Comedy tour to celebrate Tyrone’s culture. Git-r-done.

We’re getting closer to the truth. Tyrone’s Town Manager, Barry Amos, stated that perhaps a letter could be sent to the school to see if they’d be interested in connecting to the sewer, if there is any excess capacity available from John Wieland. Who’s running the town, John Wieland?

I’d say a couple more years and McCurry Park will be solid asphalt from one end to the other. I’d like to remind the “chief paver” that this is a park, not a parking lot. Anything green in the area is in danger.

Peter Pfeifer is nuts! Worst of all is the fact that I voted for the nut. He is now running in to save his campaign supporter, the former Peachtree National Bank CEO Ron Duffey. He must think that we’re total idiots for him to say, “My comments are not aimed at assisting Ron Duffey, Jim Pace, Group VI, or the bank financially.” His comments reek of back-room dealing. Maybe Pfeifer needs a second mortgage at a very low rate.

Brian Nichols is “enraged.” If anyone is entitled to be enraged, it is the law-abiding taxpayers who pay for all the welfare and crime. I am in the health care field, and I know what I’m talking about. Women have babies outside of wedlock, most of them on Medicaid, WIC, food stamps, etc. If that isn’t “paying people to reproduce,” then what, pray tell, is? They fill up expensive hospital ERs because it is “free” to them. They wear expensive designer clothes and carry the latest cell phones and drive expensive cars. Their children commit most of the violent crime in this country and perpetuate the dependence. The rap culture is vulgar and violent. The news media refuses to discuss these facts, silenced by the fear of being called “racist.”

03-16-05

Can someone please explain why there is a new working traffic light at Oak Street and Ga. Highway 54 where the strip mall development is not even close to completion, but there is no traffic light at the hospital intersection right down the road? I have witnessed so many near accidents from people trying to turn left out of the hospital and the medical buildings across the street. With the new Bob Adams development currently underway, we are about to add many more cars to this already dangerous intersection. If this is not changed, this intersection will be providing many new patients to the hospital. I would not normally advocate for additional traffic lights in Fayetteville, but this is a case where one is desperately needed.

It is spring in south Fayette County, and the hordes of swarming bikers have returned. Can someone please tell me how we became the unofficial biking spot of the world and who sponsors the Tour De Brooks each year that clogs our roads, usually on the same day our kids are trying to have a parade for the opening day of baseball season? Anyone in their right mind knows that baseball is the official sport of our country, not biking. And please don’t tell me that bikes have as much right on our road as we do, and that bike riders pay taxes also. I have a feeling they don’t pay taxes in Fayette County.

Intersection of Rockaway Road and Ga. Highway 74 South: To everyone that travels this area during morning and evening rush, be kind once in a blue moon. It’s really frustrating waiting 15 minutes or so to turn onto Hwy. 74.

Upon picking up The Citizen newspaper this morning, the first two articles I looked at had to do with teens getting themselves into trouble. The front page had to do with the teen who had created a list of people he wanted to kill. The second caption that I noticed read, “Cops tag teens as bomb vandals.” These kids live in an area that seems to cater so much to them. Great schools, lots of activities, mothers that are home full-time to run them to their activities in nice automobiles. But, does any of this really matter to these kids? They just want to be with their friends and go out and have a good time, which made me ask another question. Where do these teens really have to go around here? The theater is gone, the skating rink is gone. No wonder the paper is being hit with these horrible stories and I imagine it is only going to get worse. The last thing Peachtree City needs are more clothing boutiques, hair and nail salons or chain restaurants. I am concerned that there really does not seem to be a local outlet for our teenaged children. Any ideas?

I love Peachtree City and Fayette County. I’m concerned that my children might not grow up appreciating how good they have got it here. Having grown up rather poor and without some of the things my kids now take for granted, my wife and I are always careful to reappraise how we raise our children in knowing something about hard work and values. Parents here in PTC, if your kids come home with a used golf cart cover, that they “bought” from a friend, I’d question them one step further. My family has had two golf cart covers removed from our parked carts. I know the probable suspects are teenagers, and I hope their parents are paying enough attention to query them more than to accept some half-baked story about a friend selling a $250 cover for 20 bucks. I wonder if we convey this to our kids who have never known what its like to have had very little. Let’s participate now while they are with us, before they are gone and the traits they have learned from our inactivity is shown in their future years.

I attended a council meeting and thought it was anything but that. Did you know that 24 hours before a meeting they (the council and tourism board) decided to vote on liquor in The Fred? What next? It passed and Deli Delicious, the great food vendor, has to now figure out if they should help promote the liquor or the fantastic food. They chose the food. We will have a lot more people leaving full of food and happy, than full of liquor and DUI. What is going on with The Fred?

County Administrator Chris Cofty should be commended for the honesty and bravery that he displayed in his leadership. He deserves our appreciation for taking a stand for all even though it meant getting fired by the callous and despicable county commission.

Obviously the person who wrote the glowing appraisal of the former county administrator did not work for the county. During his five-year reign, morale among county workers worsened each year. Let’s hope that the next county administrator has at least some government experience unlike his predecessor. Cofty was fired because he deserved to be fired.

I see now by the weather site that Georgia has widespread flu. I see nothing on the city or county site about the flu. I hope someone is keeping up with the serious illnesses and deaths caused by mess-ups this year: not half enough vaccine due to too few suppliers, and then give all of their friends shots, and then scare everyone off so that they didn’t get shots, then, give the shots to any and every one so as not to lose any money on the shots, rather than a campaign to give them to those in the most need. We can’t keep ignoring such incompetence.

Hey, Fayette County Board of Education. Why don’t you starting making kids go to the correct high school? There are several students on the Whitewater High School baseball team that do not live in the Whitewater district. They took the spots that should have gone to kids who actually do live in this district. Just because they fooled you into letting them go to Whitewater Middle School does not mean they are entitled to go. This is not fair for the kids that are doing things the right way.

What is it that so many don’t get? All teachers are required to take classes to maintain their certification. Some may acquire additional degrees that result in extra pay but all are required to keep taking classes. And guess what? The students have more qualified teachers because of this.

In response to not having enough AP classes at Whitewater and the calendar: Teachers have to be certified to teach AP courses. In order to do this, someone has to foot the bill for the certification course. It might be the teacher, it might be school. So, considering that Whitewater High School is fairly new, they are probably still working these things out with their staff. Patience; progress takes time. As far as the calendar, do you honestly think your kids don’t enjoy having a break from school here and there? Is there a law prohibiting family trips sometime other than June through August?

Interesting, I saw FCBOE’s public survey requesting input on school calendars: 1. In my children’s weekly folder from school. 2. In The Citizen. 3. On the cable channel that announces school information. 4. On the FCBOE Web site. 5. In a school council meeting. 6. In a PTO meeting. I voted. My choice won. Thanks, FCBOE, for listening to parents that take the time to inform themselves.

In regards to the person seeing Clayton County-tagged cars dropping off kids at Fayette County schools: Gasp! Did you stop to consider that maybe those children are from split homes (i.e., the mom lives in Clayton County, the dad lives in Fayette County, and because they share custody of the child, they chose to have their child attend Fayette County schools)? Or maybe, the parent with Clayton tags does in fact live in Clayton, but perhaps they teach in Fayette (did you know that children of Fayette teachers can attend school in Fayette even if they live in another county?). Or, maybe a friend of the family was picking up the kids and the friend lives in Clayton. Or, maybe the parent had to borrow someone else’s car and the one they were borrowing was from a family member that lives in Clayton. Oh, the possibilities are seemingly endless. Put a little bit of trust into your fellow parents.

To the “Is it just my eyes” person that sees all the Clayton tags at Fayette County bus stops: Yes, I too have eyes and see Fulton County tags also. To be more specific, there is one at the bus stop every morning, at the Gingercake Landing subdivision on Hood Road. I was tempted to phone the police when I saw the car and continue to see it pull in there every morning. But giving the person the benefit of the doubt, I think, “Surely not, surely they just haven’t had time to get a new tag yet or something,” until I read your Free Speech comment. So if you read this, get more specific and start taking down tag numbers and name the bus stop you see them at and let’s get rid of these non-taxpaying people that are using our schools because they think they can.

From last week’s Free Speech comment, I don’t believe the Lutheran church is driven by “making a killing” to sell to Walgreens. They need a new, larger building, and like any other seller, want to get the best price available for their property. I have seen many Walgreens stores and they look as good as any other structure in Peachtree City. And congestion: drive over on Sunday and you will see congestion at the church. They need a better location. And what does their past tax-free status have to do with anything? All churches can apply to be tax-free. You also have a hidden agenda and are trying, poorly, to justify the end results with arguments that do not make sense.

I know they are working on the Ga. Highway 54 between Peachtree City and Newnan, but what a mess it is today. Where are the Peachtree City police on the short westbound stretch of road from the 54-74 intersection to the county line? Everyday, it is a drag strip. The majority are Coweta County folks that race down to the front of the line in the right lane, then swerve over in to the left lane as the right lane ends in hopes of saving a few seconds, risking everyone’s life and limb. Peachtree City’s finest should be there writing tickets everyday until the road is complete. Something must be done.

I just read another Barry Amos dig. Since none of us like him, why is he still here? Who hired him? Who should we NOT vote in next time? I thought it was about what we wanted; right?

Peachtree City markets: someone needs to offer fresh fruit. Why can’t we get good fresh fruit daily? It is a shame that it all sits out until rotten. Replace daily and you’ll see lots more sales.

Murray Weed, wake up and smell the coffee. You were quoted in the paper saying, “The association has come a long way from its initial stages, with roughly 150 people complaining about changes. Now, the complaints are limited to one or two rants in the newspaper.” That’s because all those people who complained have left the tennis center because they were fed up with you and the Tourism Board was running the tennis center. Have you driven by the Tennis Center lately? It is a ghost town. And your new tennis manager is running a “Play with the Pros” social, charging the members to play and not paying the pros to play. He is also requiring the pros to bring food to feed the people who are playing this event. All of this out of their own back pocket.

When is it good to be the principal’s daughter in Fayette County? When it comes to playing on the varsity soccer team. Even if the skills don’t measure up, there just happens to be a uniform in the stack with your number on the back in your size. How nice. Is this how the coach stays the coach?

Please, just leave your car’s exhaust (and your second-hand smoke) outside.

God bless Sheriff Johnson for having the guts to stand up to Greg Dunn. The sheriff and the state Attorney General were obviously reading the same state law book. The sad part is that the Attorney General’s opinion will probably have no effect on the tyrant and Dunn will keep right on suing. The county commissioners need to stop picking on the sheriff and let him do his job.

Commissioner Pfeifer is carrying on like someone in need of psychoanalysis. The newspapers have covered the Emergency Medical Services discrepancies. It has been painstakingly reported that the county government is taxing the residents of Peachtree City for a service that they are not receiving. Mr. Pfeifer needs to stop swimming toward a sinking ship.

Response to “kill list”: This is directed to the parents who want to know all the details of this case. This is a juvenile and all records are private. The school administration is quite capable of handling the situation. I speak from experience of a child who “uttered terroristic threats.” My child was bullied and taunted and was also the recipient of threats. The parents of the child who uttered threats against my child chose to press charges. A quarrel between two kids escalated into a nightmare. Believe me, the kid in this situation will be punished and severely. He will be treated like a criminal when it is clear that a child pushed to this kind of expression needs not be treated like a criminal but counseling and possibly mental health screening. Not to mention an investigation into why he/she felt that this was an option. I ask all you parents to be less accusatory and more sympathetic. Maybe your own kid is harboring some hurtful thoughts of their own. Adolescence is hard enough even when everything goes well.

03-09-05

Many of us against the “Walgreen” rezoning have an agenda: the desire to keep Peachtree City from becoming like Riverdale or other such areas that have let things go to seed. Why should residents of Peachtree City have to buy a place just to insure that we keep as much of the ambience as possible intact? The church has enjoyed tax-free status for years, because it was a church; now we should be content to let that site become the cause of congestion, etc., because the church wants to make a killing. I think not. If we are going to talk about “the free market” and fairness, then let the church pay all the taxes they have been exempted from over the years and declare themselves a business entity with all the rules, regulations and taxes imposed on all other businesses.

In a recent letter, Peachtree City Council member Rapson declared that his “default setting” on a particular issue was NO. This is a cutesy comment, but is this the type of attitude we want from our elected officials? It must be really comforting to someone appearing before the council to know that one person with voting power already has his mind made up, even before hearing the arguments.

I don’t believe that Nancy Price, Fayetteville Main Street director, understands the magnitude of ticket sales for the younger audiences at the Villages Amphitheater. During last year’s lineup, Sara Evans appeared at the Villages. From my perspective, 95 percent of these people that attended were 30 and under. I believe that was one the best turnouts that the Villages has had from younger audiences like myself. I just hate to see a great concert venue wasted with the Swinging Medallions or Glen Campbell.

I have the utmost respect for Peachtree City Police department [but] this new move-over law is great but someone has to let the [public] know about it. Over and over again I’ve almost hit them in a blind spot because they insist on pulling people over in the middle of the road or in some cases intersections or on blind corners. How about our safety?

The Peachtree City Library is a real asset to this town. Great hours, great staff and a wide selection of books, CDs and reference material, including computers for use by the public. This library is one of the many positive things about our city.

I am unsure why the editorial writers feel they have to defend Kedron Elementary. If I read the articles from Free Speech correctly, I never felt it was an attack on the school. The school is wonderful, thanks to the teachers and the parent volunteers and the parents that help at home. The [item] was in no way mud slinging, but it expressed concern about the administration and from what I know, rightly so. All the allegations are true. Why do people not sign their name? It is because they are afraid what the administration will do to “make it personal.” Even if you don’t sign your name there is speculation. I will not allow myself or child to be blackballed. As many people realize, good work is not indicative of a good administration.

What do you think about someone who “walks” her dog by letting it walk/run alongside her car while she drives down [the street]? There is a leash law here in Fayette County. Put your poor dog on a leash; you’ll both benefit from the exercise and he’ll be safer for it.

Thank you, County Administrator Chris Cofty, for being a man of great character and honesty. Thank you for taking a stance for what was right even to the point of sacrificing your job. It was easy to see why Commissioner Pfeifer wanted you out of the way. It is surprising that you had the patience to work five years under the dictatorial leadership of Greg Dunn. It was a disgusting insult for Dunn to trivialize your years of devoted service by saying, “We just terminated because we can.” You were a gracious leader, Chris.

I would like to remind the cyclists that visit the rural southern sections of the county each weekend to remember that many equine enthusiasts have established residency in that part of the county. Often on weekends we also must travel the same roadways, along the shoulder of course, to reach the riding paths in our area. On Feb. 26 I happened upon a large group of cyclists congregated along the Whitewater Creek bridge on Morgan Mill Road. Upon my approach, another of the group approached in an automobile and signaled arrival with a sudden blow of the horn. This frightened my mount and created a potentially dangerous situation. Please be as considerate of others as you expect the citizens of the county to be to you in the pursuit of your hobby.

Is it just my eyes or has anyone else noticed the number of Clayton County tags dropping off and picking up their kids at our Fayette County schools? Oh, yes, what about the bus stop trick? That’s creative. No one notices the Clayton County tags waiting in their cars with their children at OUR Fayette County bus stops either! Attention, FCBOE!

I am disgusted with the Fayette County Board of Education. The people have delegated legal responsibility to the Board of Education to make the tough decisions (and they are paid). With regards to the school calendar, they apparently do not care what the parents and taxpayers think. They are going to go ahead with their own agenda. With regards to Peeples Elementary, the reason that the school is so overcrowded is because the Board of Education doesn’t want to step on anyone’s toes and rezone. This is a mismanagement of taxpayer money. We are paying for trailers at Peeples Elementary while there are empty classrooms elsewhere.

This is in response to the person complaining about Peeples Elementary being overcrowded and Cleveland Elementary being half-empty. You need to do your homework before complaining. You need to ask yourself, how many of the 833 students are actually zoned for Peeples and how many are coming from out of district? Have you seen the development that is going on near and around Cleveland Elementary? With all the new subdivisions being built around there, that school will soon be overcrowded as well. When Peeples Elementary School opened, I am sure that they were not at capacity right away. Cleveland has only been open three years; how long has Peeples been open?

Over 100 students apply to take an Advanced Placement class at Whitewater High and only 40 are allowed to take the class. Why not offer more sections and let all those who applied take it? It would not cost the school or district any additional money and only the kids would benefit. Oh, I forgot: the school knows what is best for our kids. Another fine example of how Whitewater is trying to become the district’s tech prep school. Amazing how a school in this county can have such low goals for our children.

So the school board thinks all this is about Six Flags and tourism? They obviously haven’t been hearing the parents; no surprise there. Parents are tired of school starting too early in summer; we don’t want a winter break; we don’t need a week at Thanksgiving; and we all did just fine growing up on a traditional calendar. The kids in this county were doing well even before they started messing with the calendar. Most of all, I think a lot of people are just upset that this was done without any voice of approval from the parents. We were shown two possible calendars one year and both had early start dates, so how is that a choice to those of us who don’t favor it? Since the school board has decided to dig in its heels and refuse to listen to the parents, you can be sure a large majority of us are going to remember who they are when election time comes around.

This is for all the people out there who pine for the days when students got a 3-month summer vacation. I hate to break it to you, but students are required to attend school for 180 days a year. This being the case, it would be really tough to squeeze in a 3-month summer break. The only way to do this would be to cut out your Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Year, Spring Break, and Memorial Day holidays. Better take out those teacher workdays, too. So, now your students can have three months off for summer, and absolutely no days off during the school year. Sounds fabulous, doesn’t it? And as for starting school after Labor Day, you’ll still have to go until the middle of June. What’s the difference?

Our economy IS important, but primarily I just care that our summers are too short for our family and that the breaks in the school year during bad weather times are miserable and my kids’ employment and our family’s travel opportunities become more limited with the early August start dates. Local control by the school board would be ideal, but not if they are being unreasonable and need regulating. Plus, I would like to see proof that using a modified calendar has positive educational benefits.

If you are a waitress or waiter, I’ll leave a bigger tip if you don’t call me ”Honey,” “Sweetie,” or other terms of endearment. Thanks.

I am greatly disappointed. Why couldn’t the bulldozer that plowed down the Flash Foods at the corner of Jeff Davis and Hwy. 54 West go across the street and plow down the Sanford and Son junk yard that’s an eye sore for our city. I’d pay to attend that demolition.

I would like to applaud the maintenance staff of Tyrone. Through their efforts, Lake Shamrock and its surroundings are in excellent shape. Keep up the good work.

Just read that the county commission needs a new county administrator. My vote is for Barry Amos. Tyrone needs a new town manager.

I am a parent of a student, as well as she is also a member of the SCHS girls varsity basketball team. I would just like to say thank you for the wonderful coverage you afforded us this season. Not only us, but I was proud that Fayette County had five teams to make it to the state finals, and The Citizen had full coverage with the great pictures to accompany the stories. You might want to consider increasing your staff for our next basketball season because both the girls and boys Patriots will be sporting championship rings and we would not want you to miss the great pictures.

A three-way stop sign on Ga. Highway 74 and Rockaway Road? No, no, no! I’m not sure who came up with this idea, but it’s gotta be the worst I’ve heard yet. Hey, Coweta County officials. Here’s an idea to alleviate some of the traffic on Rockaway: Stop zoning for hundreds and hundreds of houses there.

I am very disappointed and appalled with the passing of Advance Auto Parts and the Waffle House practically locating in my front door. I never would have purchased my home here had I known this was to come. I certainly can’t see how these two establishments will enhance or improve our property value. I guess that’s why we as residents need to get more involved with the Tyrone Town Council.

Thank you for your continued efforts to include Our Lady of Mercy as a community high school worthy of local media attention. Although small, it is a wonderful school and will certainly continue to grow and be a source of pride to Fayette County. Some fine young men and women are doing great things at OLM.

Oops, there you go, again. Someone from the South complaining about someone from the North. Get over it and, my friend, did you realize you were complaining as well? Enough said. End it.

Mayor Brown doesn’t understand the first thing about leadership as evidenced by his last letter to the editor. He has every right to disagree with other council members, but to publicly criticize Councilwoman Rutherford in the local paper shows his ignorance. “Praise in public, criticize in private.” You would think he would have learned after his mayor pro-tem lost the last election. We don’t want to read your bickering and insults in every edition. How about adult leadership and teamwork, not school yard politics?

The Citizen has always been my favorite local newspaper, [but] recently it has been all about PTC. I’m tired of reading about PTC and their mayor. We know, we know, enough already!

I wonder which company Steve Brown will be working for once he loses his mayoral job: Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Target or John Wieland.

03-02-05

Need to comment on the person who said the church at the corner of Ga. Highway 54 and Peachtree Parkway should go to the highest bidder. I suppose they don’t believe in zoning or the wishes of neighbors. This might not be such a bad idea however: If our big hotel on the lake were to decide to sell to a paper mill or a sulphur factory, just think of all the jobs it would create. Also, Peachtree Crossing Shopping Center at 100 North Peachtree Parkway, would make an excellent wholesale car sales field. There is room out by The Estates subdivision in a couple of places, to allow a large circus and carnival to set up permanently. It could feature Indian gambling casinos, also.

The PTC Tennis Center Member Appreciation reception on Monday night was insulting. If the Tourism Association actually thinks that handing out free cookies and door prizes are going to keep the members from leaving, then they are delusional. The membership rolls and revenue are shrinking and this meeting probably did more harm than good. Members showed up expecting at a minimum a chance to get their questions answered but instead, the Tourism Association acted as if nothing was wrong. What rock have they been hiding under? The final insult of the night was the fact that only one tennis pro showed up to show “appreciation” to all the folks that pay their salary. Guess all the other pros were too busy looking for new jobs.

It is time we stopped accepting irresponsible business practices regarding second-hand smoke. When will our state legislators get it? How much longer will you let them ignore their responsibility?

I would like to see the FCBOE do something about the issue of the overcrowding at Peeples Elementary. The development is still happening on this end of town and the school is busting at the seams. I know the addition, when completed in 2006, is going to help this problem, but the addition puts the building at a capacity of 800. Peeples currently has 833 children enrolled. As a taxpayer in this county, I do not enjoy paying for half-empty schools, like Cleveland Elementary.

What do you think the odds are that St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York would sell out to Walgreens? Or The Crystal Cathedral in California to Savon Drugs? The Walgreens/Lutheran church controversy in PTC is the exact sort of thing that has turned me off to organized religion. I’m just tired of these mega-churches with their electronic signs and “bigger is better” mentality which is what it sounds like Christ Our Shepherd wants to become. Nothing’s sacred anymore. Not even a church. No thanks, I’ll stay home on Sunday.

Just when we think maybe the brothers and sisters are finally getting it, and are ready to join society as equals, along comes Jones!

To the person that wrote in about the Booth Middle School administration not having enough time to send out informative letters to the parents of children in that school regarding the “To Kill” list: Parents want to be informed of threatening situations at the school their children attend, period. We DO NOT care to find out by turning the television on and hearing about it from a reporter. It is your job to provide this type of service to us. This was not a small discipline issue at all. I find it interesting that you ask that we have faith in the school administration to “do the right thing” and run the school. Doing the right thing should be all-inclusive, not what you just choose to have time for.

I thought all Fayette schools were the same as far as education goes. But I was wrong. Both of my children attended Peeples Elementary from the day it opened and my oldest attended Rising Starr Middle and Starr’s Mill High schools. Now they attend other nearby schools. My children both make straight A’s in math while most of their friends are tutored. Peeples and Starr’s Mill must be doing something right.

I was reading The Citizen today and was glad to see that more parents are using their right of free speech. Mr. Scott Warren wonders why more parents do not voice concerns. First of all this is a very small community and parents that voice their concerns are labeled as trouble makers. And if the parent is also a teacher, he or she will be labeled as opinionated and out of control. This to me is hypocrisy at a high level. If the person exercising the right of free speech is a Yankee then they are labeled rude and obnoxious. I have lived in this community for over 10 years and have learned to stay quiet. Staying quiet sends the message, “If it doesn’t affect me why say anything?” I will say that I have been selfish to assume this attitude just to avoid labeling.

It’s about time the legislature took measures to make the start date for schools later. Every year since they started doing this I have e-mailed and written the board of education. I also have never ever gotten a survey asking for my opinion. Actually I never got a response to my letters from the school board chairperson when I wrote her. How’s that for democracy at it’s best?

Lady, teachers attend classes in the summer so they can provide their charges the best and most effective (often the most recently developed method of) education possible during the regular school year. Furthermore, how can you expect any teacher worth their chalk to take time out of their increasingly busy schedule (grading your kid’s homework, calculating grades, etc.) to attend school at night? As it is, most teachers go home nothing short of wiped out due to running about all day after little (often under-parented and overmedicated) goobers.

The start and stop days for the county schools are obviously set for the benefit of the administration, not the parents and students. This is typical of “the customer is always wrong” (the bill payers.) It is selfish and unprofessional to say scheduling something for a different time is too hard to do. A little night and week-end work never hurt any administrator. Most parents and students don’t want to be shoved out of school a half-dozen times a year with no one responsible around and with nothing to do. What they want is a firm schedule for the parents so they can plan to take care of their children while they work, and the students want off three straight months, June through August. No teacher going to college will be fired for showing up a little late to teach or administer.

Such hostility about fish! I didn’t know a simple question would bring on such hostile reactions. I guess I’ll have to go North to find some manners as well. Thanks for the offer of Stations of the Cross; I practice as well.

Steve Brown called Tom Farr unethical! I never met Mr. Farr but I have seen and benefited from his long hours of dedication to the betterment of this community. He was a decent, caring and hard-working husband and community leader. He must be chuckling from heaven, knowing that was Steve Brown’s fatal comment come election time. Maybe we can get Rapson and Weed to stick their foot in their mouths and get rid of all three.

I applaud the writer who called attention to the fact that Dar Thompson boasts a 97 percent retention rate in his health clubs. More so that the writer alludes to it being untrue. If his clubs were so great how come there are three others in Fayetteville, two new ones in Tyrone, and Ultimate is moving in to Aberdeen just as soon as the blessed new World’s opens in Peachtree City. If he manages the city like he manages his clubs, he won’t. Kim Hershey will. As a former world class athlete I find Dar reminiscent of a Cheech and Chong character. Party on, Dar, don’t bogey that thing!

Dar Thompson is the perfect mayoral candidate for Peachtree City. He is proud and boastful (see his letter in 2/16 Citizen), he is apparently deep in debt, he is a failed actor, he is feverishly trying to reinvent himself in anticipation of an election, he has bleached hair, and he has reportedly had numerous cosmetic surgeries. Heck, he will win in a landslide in a place like Peachtree City!

The Tennis Center lost over 100 members, 60 ALTA/USTA teams and five major tournaments in 2004. This makes Virgil Christian’s $250,000 cost overage on the expansion of the Tennis Center look rather insignificant in light of the state of affairs we find ourselves in now. After seeing the ‘04 amphitheater lineup, I think it is very safe to say that those revenues will also go down significantly in 2005. It is critical that we get politicians out of these affairs and replace them with legitimate, proven, private-sector businessmen and -women. It is simply becoming too painful to witness any longer.

To the residents who are complaining about the concert series line up: there are many of us “younger” residents who do not care to see The Swinging Medallions each week.

Peter [Pfeifer] has hit it right on the head. I live in south PTC and can only hope TDK extension into Coweta County is completed while I’m still alive. Mayor Brown may write a lot of letters but what else has he done?

If my tax money is going to move the funeral home to another part of [Fayetteville], I’m sure I’m opposed to this. If you plan to preserve it, then it should be left where it’s at; otherwise just tear it down. I’m sure if you take a survey, most of Fayetteville’s citizens could care less about preserving it. Take a look around Fayetteville and look at all the new construction and tell me these people care about this old house.

I would like to thank Girl Scout Troop 96 for the Valentine cards they made for the residents of the Southland Nursing Home. My mother was a recipient and it really helped brighten her day as well as the other residents. What a wonderful thing to do. Thanks.

I moved from Fayette County about five years ago and everytime I start to miss it all I have to do is read Free Speech. So glad I’m gone!

To all of you who keep complaining about your government and candidates, here’s an idea: Why don’t you run for office yourself? Either that or spend the time that you do complaining working on someone that you like’s campaign or encouraging someone you believe in to run. At least the people you are complaining about had the guts to put their money where their mouth is.

Give me a mayoral candidate who will publicly promise to start putting responsibility for raising the city’s children where it should be, on the parents and not the police, and they will get my support. Grow up, PTC. You have one of the most un-corrupt, supportive police departments. How about treating them with just an ounce of respect. How about smiling at them and saying hi instead of looking the other way. You might be pleasantly surprised if you take the time to get to know them.

So, Tyrone’s getting a Waffle House, a Sonic , and an auto parts store. Now all it needs is a pawn shop and a bail bondsman.

Is this true? I was recently informed by a reliable source that if you or I should need to seek the services of our local paramedics unit, as always, we will get the very best of service. However, if there is a need to transport you or me to the hospital for treatment, we may not be permitted to go to Piedmont-Fayette. No, we may be turned away and be forced to go to any one of a number of other hospitals in other counties. The reason for this seems to be the overcrowding of our local facility. I know we have outgrown our facilities, but could it be that other counties are using our resources? Rest assured, if you are well enough to drive yourself to the hospital or have someone to take you, you will be accepted; it’s the law.

Out in front of the Piedmont-Fayette Hospital is one of our county’s most dangerous traffic intersections. I do not know if they have had the “big one” yet, but it will come soon enough. There have been many accidents at this location, which makes me wonder, why don’t more people use the entrance and exit on Sandy Creek Road, where you can then use the traffic light on Ga. Highway 54? If a Wally World, Mega Home Store, or Fast Eddie’s Flea Market had been built at this location, the county (city) would have required them to pay for and install a traffic light. Well, I have come up with a cheap quick fix: right turn only out of the main entrance would tremendously help the situation. Please, for life’s sake, try it.

Today’s newsflash quotes President Bush declaring that North Korea and Iran are banned from having any “nucular” weapons. If all nations follow this decree to the exact letter, we should all be worried. In foreign diplomacy and global policy, it would be beneficial to all if he would come to understand that this is a “nuclear” problem. Bozos will be Bozos.