What our Readers Are Saying

Letters to the Editor

December 1, 2004

Story about wrestler lacked sensitivity

I found J. Frank Lynch’s article regarding the unfortunate loss of David Ribeiro, the 10th grader at Sandy Creek High School, to lack sensitivity.

The article’s first sentence begins by stating, “There were no strippers at David Ribeiro’s funeral.”

As a mother of teenagers, I can attest that things are said jokingly by that age group, with absolutely no real intention behind it. If it was discussed by friends it should have stayed among friends, and not printed in black and white.

Although I did not know David and his family, I can’t begin to imagine the pain and sense of void that his family is feeling. My heart goes out to them, and it makes me appreciate having my own children beside me even more.

That particular line reminds me more of the National Enquirer than the community-concerned paper that The Citizen has prided itself in being.

If mention of his sense of humor was going to be written about, it should not have been the opening sentence, as it gave the article the wrong impression.

May God bless this family, and I know that many people, as are all the churches in the area, are praying for them in this most difficult time.

Marta McGlade
pmbec@earthlink.net

[The editor replies: The reference mentioned above was part of the main eulogy delivered by the young man’s best friend to the hundreds present at the funeral. The statement was offered in humor and respect at the funeral as a part of the funeral service and was reported, in the same spirit and with no disrespect intended, in our story.]

Story about funeral was like being there

I was not able to be there for David’s memorial, but your article made me feel I as if I was there. [I’m a] long-time friend of David’s mom, Dagmar Gomez.

I was able to keep in touch through your coverage of this tragic event. I thank you for your sensitivity, and please keep us informed.

Awilda Ramos Mooney
Kimberton, Penn.

F’ville Council should pass a smoking ban

Mayor Steele and members of the Fayetteville Council, my wife and I are (as of February) new residents and homeowners in this wonderful city and county.

Fayetteville is as superlative as it is beautiful, and Fayette County leads the state in many categories (schools, voting, low crime rates, property values, etc).

I have one concern and would like to address that with you. My wife and I go out to eat on occasion at Loco’s, O’Charley’s, Johnny’s Pizza, Ruby Tuesday’s, etc., and regularly come home smelling like cigarette smoke.

This is not from going out to some hole-in-the-wall bar; it is from many restaurants here in Fayetteville.

I know Peachtree City recently passed a smoke-free ordinance, as has Snellville, Decatur, Douglasville, Loganville, and others. None of those cities comes close to the quality of life offered in Fayetteville, yet each has passed this ordinance for the betterment of its residents.

Many studies have shown that businesses do fine without smoking. Even so, this is an important health issue as the effects of second-hand smoke have been well documented.

Someone smoking to the detriment of himself is one thing, but to subject restaurant and bar patrons to a continual barrage of cigarette smoke is absolutely asinine, and antiquated.

Do you or the city council have any plans in the near future to consider a no-smoking ordinance? If not, what can I and other city residents do to initiate one?

This is a very important and pertinent issue and one in which I am going to become very pro-active and engaged.

If any other Fayetteville residents are interested in being able to enjoy a night out without cigarette smoke, please contact City Manager Joe Morton, Mayor Ken Steele or any member of the Fayetteville Council.

Morgan Kemp
Fayetteville, Ga.

What is needed for Fayette County H.S.: A good coach or a good man?

I appreciate Mr. Ford expressing his outrage about the article, “Parents Want FCHS to Fire 2-18 Coach,” printed in The Citizen, Nov. 17.

I am surprised. though, considering his child does not play on the Fayette County High School varsity football team, but was on the ninth grade team (not coached by Webb).

The concerns regarding the head football coach at the school are due to the two dismal seasons [the] varsity has experienced under his leadership.

Let’s be honest. All the back and forth over the football program would not even be taking place at this time if the school administration would not have cancelled the meeting scheduled Nov. 9 with the parents who wanted to discuss their concerns about the football program.

School administrators initially agreed to this meeting when they thought it was only four to five unhappy parents. When they realized a large number of parents had serious concerns, they cancelled the meeting and requested parents contact Dr. Warr individually (divide and conquer technique).

School administrators and the board of education should be trying to figure out how to bring about some form of resolution to this ticking time bomb. Bring the parents and the coach together, not at a meeting headed by the Touchdown Club.

Everyone has a right to express their opinion. It is the American way. I have a problem with the select Touchdown Club parents who feel like everyone should sing praises about Coach Webb.

I constantly hear he is a good and nice man. That is great. But, what the players need is a good, possibly great, coach. There is a difference.

FCHS has the largest student population in Fayette County. Some of the best athletes in the school will not step on the football field because of the relationship between the coach and the Touchdown Club.

It is not about who is the best athlete for the position, but is your daddy a part of the inner circle of the Touchdown Club? How much money does your family contribute to the program? Who is a long time friend of the coach with kids on the team?

If the coach cannot separate himself from this, and he truly is a good man, he should step aside and let someone who will do what is right for the football program.

I understand that it had been a long-time dream of Coach Webb to get the coaching position at FCHS. It has also been the dream of most of the players to be a part of a respected football program.

Coach Webb has had his time to shine. Let the players have a shot with a real program that is about putting the best athletes on the team on the field. Remember, it is not about the coach, but about the young men that sacrifice their time and bodies on the field.

Carolyn Jones
Fayette County, Ga.

Coach’s daughter: Dad motivates all his players

As I walked into my parents’ house after a long week at Georgia Tech, my elation at the impending holiday was dampened when I saw your Nov. 17 front page headline, “Parents want FCHS to fire 2-18 coach.”

I read the article, counted to 10, and then decided to write you with an alternative headline that more truly reflects what my father is all about: “Despite tough season, FCHS coach optimistic and resolved to make next season a success.”

As a 2001 graduate of Fayette County High School, I was a freshman the last time our football team went to post-season play. I think this illustrates the fact that the problem with Fayette County football stems back much further than the past two years.

With the opening of Starr’s Mill, Whitewater, and Mundy’s Mill High schools, the pool of athletes that once came to Fayette County are now split between four schools.

Not that I’m making excuses. Since my days in the halls of FCHS, the football team has been pessimistic, demoralized, and lacking support from their fans.

Knowing this, my father came ready to accept this challenge and turn the program around. He believed in this program from the beginning and has not given up on it. His heart breaks with every loss because he sees potential in all the young men who wear the black and gold uniform.

I remember vividly the one game he won in his first season at FCHS, tears streamed down his face because he was so proud of the way his team played and their winning spirit.

My father cares about every one of his players. He wants to see them succeed, on the field and in the classroom. He’s teaching them determination, hard work, and integrity, three attributes he exemplifies on and off the field.

Throughout his career he has touched the lives of countless children and young adults, winning the support and admiration of their parents who appreciated his dedication, positive attitude, and enthusiasm.

As I walked around his study contemplating my words to this paper, I was surrounded by plaques. “Georgia Athletic Director of the Year.” “Coach of the Year.” “Teacher of the Year.” Diplomas, evidence of the three degrees he holds in education: B.S, Masters, and Specialist’s.

I don’t know another high school football coach as studied in how to deal with students and how to manage an effective program.

My favorite honor was bestowed upon him by his 1998 Little League baseball team: “Best Motivator.” This last plaque reflects my dad’s true nature.

He knows how to make kids believe in themselves, win or lose. He knows how to teach them integrity and the importance of playing a fair game.

I don’t know Carolyn Jones, or any of the other parents dissatisfied with the past two seasons of Fayette County football, but I hope they will read my words and understand that my dad believes in their sons regardless of their lack of support and wants to see them excel.

I hope the rest of Fayetteville reads the words of Coach Tommy Webb’s oldest daughter and understands that the words on the front page of The Citizen are not representative of the great man my father is.

Win or lose, I’ll stand behind the Tigers and give them my support. I hope the rest of this community will as well, and who knows, maybe next year will be our year.

Kelli Webb
Senior, Georgia Institute of Technology
2001 FCHS Graduate

Lutheran rezoning will affect many decisions

A city’s decisions never sit alone. They stack up on each other like stones beneath a river, often changing the course of events and the lives of those within.

The issue for Peachtree City is whether to grant a rezoning of Christ Our Shepherd [Lutheran Church]’s property for commercial development at the corner of Ga. Highway 54 and Peachtree Parkway.

A 24-hour Walgreens and a business to be named are proposed. This intersection, at the heart of our city, is now 50-50 church and commercial with the two existing churches buffering neighborhoods. It is a delicate balance.

While I am not a land planner I am a good listener. People notice churches. They make us feel more secure and committed to where we live. It is a fact. This is simply a church that everyone notices because of both exceptional design and location.

One argument is that the village design concept calls for commercial development on the arterial roads at the village core.

That is not what I see when I drive up and down the highway and parkway. Hwy. 54 from east city limits to Ga. Highway 74 is a lovely mixed-use corridor that is as much “Church Street” as it is commercial.

Count them: There are six major churches plus two more Methodist campuses and St. Andrew’s [in the Pines Episcopal Church] just blocks away.

This rezoning from Office/Institutional would set a terrible precedent. The city would forfeit the ability to effectively negotiate alternative solutions for future church property rezonings.

And yes, people really notice churches and the way they make them feel about where they live.

Out-of-towners also notice. Have you ever visited a relative in a new town and watched what they show you with the most pride? In my family it’s churches, parks, bodies of water and occasionally shopping-entertainment districts (think The Avenue).

What do you show your family when they visit? I respectfully suggest that it won’t be a Walgreens or the much smaller Eckerd across the street or the other half dozen pharmacies close by.

Who wants this commercial rezoning? Does the community need another and much bigger-box drugstore, or does Walgreens need the community?

There are much more suitable locations already zoned commercial. Walgreens is welcome. Money talks, but we do not always have to listen. There are several alternative commercial sites.

Our city’s decision on the proposed rezoning of Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church is not simply another stone stacked in the river. It is a boulder that could adversely impact our quality of life, traffic, storm water run-off, public safety and ultimately Line Creek.

This would also create an unnecessary impediment to overcome in future rezoning requests from other Office/Institutional property owners.

Did I mention Line Creek? The Lutheran church is simultaneously seeking to rebuild and likely would purchase a large parcel in the proposed 400-acre city annexation for John Wieland Homes.

Churches are private property owners, not public entities. I repeat churches are private, not public property owners. They already have special property privileges in recognition of community service. Churches do not pay taxes and they can build in any zoning, residential or otherwise.

This is seemingly yet another Mayor Steve Brown-brokered deal. Is it too much to ask that the upcoming vote on this proposed commercial rezoning at the heart of our planned community be considered on itis own merits, or if you prefer, demerits? Why muddy the water? The proposed annexation of John Wieland’s acreage should be a separate issue.

I question the wisdom of providing further “indirect” public financial assistance. Christ Our Shepherd is a respected private property owner with rights. The city also has the right to say no to their proposed commercial rezoning. They can relocate regardless.

Should the community subsidize a private entity thrice? Christ Our Shepherd 1) bought their current property at one-half market rate, 2) the proposed rezoning would raise the land-only value of this property by at least $1.5 million and 3) if approved they will then likely seek the equivalent of a further community subsidy to relocate and rebuild on another very favorably priced and larger parcel, thereby adding support for the proposed John Wieland Homes annexation into Peachtree City.

The Lutherans by their actions also dammed up the original (and now legally expired) land covenant that specified church or church-related use only at their current site.

It is all a bit confusing and unnecessarily so. They have a wonderful ministry. Christ Our Shepherd’s active membership includes about 3 percent of Peachtree City’s population. They deserve community support, but so do our other churches.

I, however, do not support the proposed commercial rezoning of their current property. We do not need to be left with an unneeded 24-hour mess and potentially other future commercial rezonings. It is simply too large a price to pay.

B. Ray Helton
Peachtree City, Ga.

Pilots unfairly cast as villains in Delta’s downfall

As a fellow Delta pilot’s wife, I feel compelled to come to the defense of that poor woman who had the misfortune to trust the hospitality of this community and offer her view of what the Delta pilots and their families were going through during the recent difficult negotiations.

The meanness and narrowness of a certain few members of this community has shocked me for a few years now, but your abuse of this poor woman in the anonymous “Free Speech” section has been worse than even I would have expected. I can only conclude that jealousy and vindictiveness motivate these people heaping such abuse upon this woman.

First of all, I have to say that Delta pilots work for a living, and they work hard.

My husband learned to fly in the military, where he flew the most dangerous jet in the inventory. He has been faced with many difficult, dangerous situations, and he brings this experience with him into the cockpit when he flies.

When he flies, he is responsible for millions of dollars of equipment and hundreds of people each day. If he makes a mistake, it could cost the company its future, and his passengers their lives.

How many of you have the same responsibility each day you go to work?

My husband has been gone many holidays, weekends, and school vacations. He has worked very hard to get to this point in his profession, as have all the pilots. Many of the pilots are extremely well educated and experienced.

Instead of choosing other, perhaps more lucrative professions, they chose to fly, and you should be glad we have people like this taking our safety into their hands each time we travel by air.

If Delta executives like Leo Mullen were allowed to ride off into the sunset with their huge golden parachutes, leaving the company cash-poor, that is not the pilots’ fault.

The pilots were cast unfairly as the villains in this play from the beginning. They were more than willing to offer concessions earlier on, but Delta would not negotiate, and drove the airline almost into bankruptcy in an effort to break the pilot’s union.

Being a pilot is a profession. It takes years and years of education, training, and retraining.

Why don’t you write letters complaining about how much lawyers make, and how their salaries drive all of our costs up due to the high price of litigation? Why don’t you complain to your physician about his wages next time you are in the emergency room?

And for all of you who will no doubt cast me as a “Little Priss” who should be looking for a job and writing to Neiman-Marcus, let me tell you I’ve worked very hard for a living, served in the military, and have been a proud Marine wife for years, so be careful whom you stereotype.

You’ll notice also that I’m proud to use my name and signature on the bottom of this letter.

Gail Bateman
Peachtree City, Ga.

Advice for Wynnmeade residents

My name is Jim Sells. I am a landlord. I have been the whipping boy of the Wynnmeade Homeowners Association, led by Marilyn Arnold.

I have been harassed, maligned, hauled into court and blamed for all that ails this community of 240 homes. All because I had one tenant in one rental house. Now I’d like to respond.

First let’s start with some statements I consider to be facts. Wynnmeade is an undesirable place to live. Things can be done to make things better.

The Wynnmeade HOA, while having the best of intentions, is nothing more than a small group of people representing their own ideas. They don’t represent Wynnmeade and their power is derived from harassing the hell out of anyone that doesn’t do what they want.

While certainly having followers, they have alienated many homeowners, tenants and landlords in the community with the same goals.

Arnold has acknowledged in other articles [that] she “badgers” people. I can attest to the accuracy of that.

I have bought and renovated over 70 homes since meeting Arnold and her HOA, but not one in Wynnmeade. Even a patient businessman that has common goals with you, when abused, will look for locations away from you.

Having stated the above, I’d like to give the residents of Wynnmeade advice that can turn the community around. Here are my qualifications to do so.

Turning communities around is what I do. I have devoted much of the last three years to turning around a neighborhood in Grantville. I have bought 50 of the worst houses in town. I searched out the drug houses, run-down homes, abandoned homes, and ugly homes rented by landlords.

I bought these houses and then hired people in this community to renovate them. These homes were much older and in much worse shape than Wynnmeade. They averaged 70 years old. Now [they are] renovated with new occupants. The new occupants are families that care about their community.

Everyone wins. My home values are way up, the neighbors’ home values are up, and people have a better community to live in. Driving through this neighborhood, you no longer see numerous vacated houses with for sale or rent signs out front as you do in Wynnmeade.

Here is what you can do to make Wynnmeade a desirable place to live. Learn to work with each other. That means landlords, homeowners, tenants, developers and city leaders. That even means working with tenants.

You have many great tenants to work with. The Home Owners Association, by name alone, shows an arrogance and exclusion against them. They are a big part of this community and must be part of the solution.

Many of the problem ones may be brought around with preventive rather than punitive efforts.

Tenants are real people with hopes and dreams. They aspire to home ownership the same way homeowners aspire to a bigger house and better neighborhood.

If they don’t meet your standards, work with them. Start a new association that includes tenants or at least dump Arnold and find someone with real people skills to run the old one.

If Arnold, and the rest that hope they will get their way by bullying, don’t change their attitude, Wynnmeade will have to improve in spite of them. Bullying didn’t work in grade school, it doesn’t work in business.

Unite the landlords. Have them set standards for condition of homes, number of occupants allowed, number of vehicles allowed, etc. They will make more money working together than working by themselves. Once you get them working together, they will educate or buy out the weak ones.

Help them start a rental pool that pre-qualifies tenants. Give reduced rents to people that come from this pool. I mean a big reduction, $250 a month. You’ll improve the quality of tenants and thus the neighborhood and in two years the property appreciation and high occupancy rate will more than cover this loss.

I’m sure out of 240 homes you could find three or four good volunteers that would run this program for the landlords and improve your neighborhoods.

Have block parties and bake sales to unite the residents. Use the money to reward the best looking or most improved homes.

Most landlords would love to contribute to this kind of effort. Work with real estate experts that will commit to the community and set up a network to find buyers.

You absolutely must be positive, set goals, and apply yourself. You don’t need money or a degree, you need ideas, and you need to put them to work.

Once you begin to work in a positive direction, you’ll have meeting and numerous ideas to make the community a great place to live.

You have three choices. You can do nothing. You can write more ugly letters and blame landlords for your community, or you can be positive and proactive. Your choice will shape Wynnmeade in the future.

Jim Sells
Peachtree City, Ga.

Republicans remain repugnantly servile

How discerning of Mr. Foster to realize so quickly that I was “’avin’ ‘im on,” as Michael Caine might say.

On the other hand, as a card-carrying “conservative” (whatever that might be) and a man who has taught college “level” courses, I’m sure he realized that only registered invited Republicans get close to this President.

Having only ever been asked to leave college “level” courses, I thought at first he was ‘avin’ me on when he talked about running away from the White House and the foolish war Bush has started. Then I realized: He wasn’t.

I’ll bet his church group has supplied him with the names of the Iraqis who seized that airplane and crashed it into the Pentagon. I’ll bet they have the home addresses of the other 15 Iraqis on the other three airplanes from Sept 11, 2001.

I’m sure they still believe, even after the 911 Commission hearings and final report that Iraq and al Qaida were both eating out of the same bowl.

They’re waiting for Saddam to finally break, and reveal his fling with the religious madman Osama bin Laden.

They know that Bush knew something, but just can’t tell them; that Bush is a good and moral man who would never commit us to a war unless he had compelling evidence.

In other words as religion has become politics, politics has become dogma.

Despite all evidence to the contrary, Mr. Bush will never be held accountable for the flimsy reasoning that has led to this shameful waste of American power and raw valor.

Yes, our soldiers are magnificent and as Americans, display that fine combination of morality and fighting spirit shown by their fathers and grandfathers. And that makes it all the more imperative that we use them and their sacrifice and their blood only in defense of the nation, and only when compelling evidence exists that the shedding of their blood is necessary.

People may ask, what good does it do to examine this subject now in the midst of a conflict that we must win?

My only answer is, because we are the good guys and in spite of everything we Americans try to do the right thing.

I find the position taken by modern Republicans to be repugnantly servile. They value political power far more than they value the truth and the truth is that the reasoning for this war in Iraq could not stand the light of day.

Apparently Mr. Foster is in the majority of this new pewling bunch of lap dogs that have taken over. It is a shame, and it is un-American.

Timothy J. Parker
Peachtree City, Ga.

So, we destroy Fallujah to liberate it . . .

I just finished reading the news and seeing the visuals on the TV. Our U.S. forces have just about “liberated” the city of Fallujah in Iraq.

In order to do this, however, the buildings and essential structures had to be either severely damaged or destroyed.

The estimates are that it will take “tens of millions of dollars” to restore this city so that the residents can return and rebuild a respect that we have also shot all to hell.

This is Fallujah. Now, Mosul and Basra, as well as Baghdad, are in line for restorative projects.

Meanwhile, we have school buildings in the state of Georgia which are lacking in adequate heat, space, and protection from leaking roofs, and we taxpayers are hard-pressed to find the resources to provide resolutions to our shortcomings.

In view of the catastrophic spiraling of the national debt, the international trade gap, and our weakening economic health, can we really continue to afford to spend our way to win friends in the Middle East at the expense of our own needs?

Juan Matute
Peachtree City, Ga.