For past Letters to the Editor, view our Archives by publication date.

Bad Links?
Other glitches?
Notify Webmaster

What our Readers Are Saying

Letters to the Editor

Tyrone votes 3-to-2 to break land use vows

The Tyrone Town Council showed a remarkable lack of regard for the citizens of Tyrone and Fayette County in giving its nod of approval to the next large-scale subdivision in Tyrone.

In front of a large crowd of citizens, one after the other of whom expressed opposition not just to this subdivision but also to the way growth is being managed in Tyrone, council members Mike Smola and Paul Letourneau and Mayor Sheryl Lee chose to side with the developer.

Mr. Letourneau claimed his previous concerns about the development had been addressed, yet the concerns of the citizens who elected him fell on deaf ears.

The contention that many of the citizens who spoke out won’t be affected by the development because they don’t live near it is short-sighted and arrogant. Their voices were wrongly discounted simply because they don’t live in the immediate area of the subdivision.

ALL Tyrone citizens, no matter where they live, will be affected, faced with increased demand for police protection, overcrowded schools, and the cost of maintaining sewer service to be supplied by Fairburn’s trouble-ridden system.

Perhaps the icing on the cake for Tyrone and Peachtree City citizens alike will be the increased traffic on Ga. Highway 74, since cars from 160 homes will be entering onto Hwy. 74.

One of the most disturbing trends in Tyrone is the lack of regard by the town council for the town’s land use map. The land use map for this property was changed as recently as last July, and now yet another change has been made to accommodate the developer’s request for half-acre lots.

Wieland Homes could have developed the property under the current (pre-amended) land use map, which would have permitted zonings with minimum lot sizes of two to three acres or, if the recently approved Conservation Overlay District were applied, a minimum lot size of one acre.

According to a representative of Wieland Homes who was present at the meeting, development under the current land use map would have yielded 90 to 100 homes, or 60 to 70 fewer than what has now been approved.

In April, the Tyrone Planning Commission voted 3-0 to deny the developer’s request to amend the land use map, stating that the current land use map designation was more appropriate for the 217-acre tract, which contains a large amount of environmentally sensitive wetlands.

Their recommendation, however, was disregarded by our developer-friendly (or is it developer-intimidated?) mayor and town council.

It seems that Tyrone was being faced (again) with the threat of litigation by John Wieland Homes if the request for rezoning was denied.

Evidently, Mr. Smola, Mr. Letourneau, and Mayor Lee, who cast the deciding vote, would rather put up with one night of outcry from pesky citizens than stand up to Wieland Homes and actually represent those citizens.

Mayor Lee, who could not even articulate a reason for her vote, showed she has already forgotten her own campaign pledge last year to support low-density development.

Kudos to the Tyrone Planning Commission for their efforts to preserve the land use map, and to council members Lyn Redwood and Lisa Richardson, who did the right thing by representing their constituents and voting to deny the request.

The other three, by shutting out the voices of the community, have let this town down and have opened the door to similar projects that will lead us down a path of overdevelopment and all the ills that go with it.

Carrie Klarl

Tyrone, Ga.

Tyrone pro-Wieland vote ‘turning point’ for town

Thursday, May 19, 2005, was a real turning point for the town of Tyrone. It’s the day the mayor and Town Council, except for Lisa Richardson and Lyn Redwood, “gave up the town,” turned their backs on the residents of Tyrone, and turned toward the developers, specifically John Wieland.

Resident upon resident told valid reasons to deny the Wieland rezoning request with applause following each speaker.

The reasons against the high-density development on Ga. Highway 74 included the effect of overdevelopment on the infrastructure of the town, namely its schools, the roads, and the police; Hwy. 74 turning into a Memorial Drive or Tara Boulevard; the adverse effect on nature, etc.

The Mayor was even challenged to keep her campaign promise as stated in her own words: “We have a choice of continuing our long-held vision for low-density residential development or embark on a new vision of Tyrone. I believe it is my responsibility to the community as your mayor to continue with the existing vision of Tyrone. It is more critical now than ever before to continue to protect the rural character of our town.” What happened to her promise?

In addition, Councilman Mike Smola, who also based his platform on maintaining the established land use plan and on considering and preserving the infrastructure (schools, roads, etc.) of the area, voted for rezoning and for the developer’s plans. What happened to his promise?

As the residents spoke, the body language of Lisa Richardson and Lyn Redwood was open and receptive as they leaned forward and maintained eye contact. The body language of Paul Letourneau, Mike Smola, and Sheryl Lee and their intermittent eye contact showed that they were hearing, but NOT listening to those who spoke.

Could their minds have been made up before even coming to the meeting that evening? They turned deaf ears to the outcries of the people of Tyrone.

The vote was deadlocked: two against, Lisa Richardson and Lyn Redwood; and two for, Paul Letourneau and Mike Smola.

It was Mayor Sheryl Lee’s moment of truth, to be true to her campaign promises to the people of Tyrone and true to herself and her word.

With absolutely no hesitation and no explanation, she voted FOR the developer.

Is it time to hold politicians accountable for their campaign promises?

It is time to thank those who listen and care about Tyrone and its citizenry, namely Lisa Richardson and Lyn Redwood. It is time to challenge the mayor and other council members who do not listen and who do not make developers go back once again to their planning tables to create a plan that is for the highest good of all concerned.

Capt. John Russell

www.safeyacht.com

Booth flap: Be better parents, clothe your kids

“A shirt riding up. Do they think this is really causing oral sex,” she said. “The problem is the teachers are in the hallway looking out for the good kids to slip up somewhere instead of watching the bad kids giving oral sex.” — Patricia Lowther in The Citizen May 15 edition

The “problem” has nothing to do with what the teachers are trying to accomplish. The “problem” has to do with bad parenting.

And while Mrs. Lowther’s daughter did deserve only a warning, she misses the bigger issue.

I’m the husband of a Booth teacher, and I can’t even count the times anymore of stories I hear about many of these kids.

And the one constant I notice in most of these cases is that the parents are not involved and have no interest in their child’s academic or personal life.

Mrs. Lowther needs to think twice before she sees fit to chastise teachers. She apparently is completely ignorant to what they go through day in, day out.

How many times have teachers had students who have potential, but find it difficult for them to improve because of no parental support?

How many times have they made calls to parents in order to discuss a problem with their child, only to have a parent dismiss the issue altogether or, even worse, not even return a call?

How many times have teachers come home after long days of frustrations only to spend the nights making the aforementioned phone calls?

I’d like to ask Mrs. Lowther why she allows her 13-year-old daughter to wear clothes that have the tendency to “ride up”?

Who in their right mind allows an adolescent girl to wear sexually suggestive clothing?

And yes, Mrs. Lowther, they do believe it causes oral sex, as well as the “deed” itself. They have good reason to believe that.

Usually, the educational field doesn’t see fit to jump up loudly and make wild accusations about your children. Not in their best interest, and certainly not rational.

You want things to be better? Be better parents. Teach your kids decency, respect, and honor. Take more of an interest in their lives, both academically and personally. Join the PTA.

And for God’s sake, don’t let your adolescents dress like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.

Give them real role models. Turn off the TVs and give them books. Make them play outside. Let them be kids.

I promise, things will get better faster than you’ll realize. There will be no sex of any kind in buses or in classrooms; no hit lists will be drawn up.

And until we reach that day, don’t go pointing your finger at a teacher. For some of these kids, their teacher is the only form of support they have.

Andy Roekest

roekest@gmail.com

Dad defends principal

Re: your article about my son Ted Lombard at Booth Middle School and the dress code controversy.

My son Ted, a West Point graduate, with 20 years of service, father of three kids, all now in college in Georgia, has always been a gentle man.

Ted has several times walked me through Booth, which I would describe as a Taj Mahal, compared to my 1940s schools.

It seems like most in your article are in favor of Ted. Thank you.

Ted called us that night to tell us about this ”assault.” I repeatedly told Ted, “No, this was a battery,” as your paper reported.

Also, this battery occurred in the Booth front office, with many witnesses.

I do not believe that this was a “racist” incident.

I think that Ted would only ask for a new shirt.

And, let’s get on to graduation!

Col. Hal Lombard, U.S. Army Retired

hlombard@innernet.net

Gov., GOP under-fund Ga. schools

With the school year coming to an end, now is a good time to take a look at the state of education in our state.

Georgia ranks 49th in the country in SAT scores, and more than a third of our 1.5 million students fail to graduate from high school (2003-04 numbers, according to the state Department of Education).

Over the last two years, Gov. Perdue and the GOP-dominated legislature have underfunded education by almost a billion dollars, even though state revenues have improved.

As a result, 83 Georgia counties have been forced to raise property taxes during this same period to cover education expenses the state no longer covers.

Perdue has also delayed the reduction in class sizes required by the 2000 “A Plus Education” act, even though there is objective, verifiable research that shows smaller class sizes lead to better education.

The voters in Florida recently approved an amendment to their state constitution that mandated smaller class sizes; Georgia voters should have the opportunity to do the same. That, and adequate state funding of our schools, would put our state back on the right track in education.

L.W. Gibbs

Fayetteville, Ga.

Ex-F’ville police officer looks back

My name is Tim Holt. I’m an ex-officer (1979-1996) of the Fayetteville Police Department. I spend 17 years of my life severing the citizens of Fayetteville before I was forced out.

I made it to the rank of lieutenant in charge of the midnight shift.

Ask any of the officers that worked for me. I believe you would find that they could count on my judgment and knowledge of the law.

They enjoy working with and respected me. They would say I was a fair-minded person. I served with professionalism. I had no adverse write-ups in my personnel file that I know about, except at the end.

I was in the process of attaining my advance certification from POST. I would have been the only officer to have attained this status in the department.

I was attending college to get my degree with a 4.0 GPA and I had even received recognition from the state Training Center in Forsyth, Ga., for having a prefect grade in their supervisor’s course.

Yet this wasn’t recognized by [Chief Johnny] Roberts, or was it? See, I had applied for the position of chief the same time he did.

Let me make it clear I’m no supporter of Harold Simmons. I attended all the council meetings. I didn’t like what I heard at the last meeting. I support the officers.

I know the other side of Harold. He also was a lieutenant while I worked for Fayetteville. He was the right-hand man to Roberts. He participated in the rough-shod [treatment] of the officers.

An old Southern expression goes, “Like peas in pod.” That was Roberts, Ledbetter and Harold. But somewhere along the way Harold fell from grace.

Why do you think he was a school resource officer? You don’t put ex-majors as a school resource officer. Except for punishment (or if they ask to be put there) so they will be out of the way.

I have no doubt he was repelled by Roberts and treated unfairly. He (Simmons) shouldn’t have been working for Fayetteville.

The mayor, the City Council and [City Manager] Joe Morton are just as responsible for what has gone on in the police department as Roberts is. Because they sat back and never questioned why all but one of the superior officers that were there when Roberts took over in 1992 left the department by 1996.

These are people I know. They would be still working for the city of Fayetteville if Roberts had not mistreated them to the point of frustration.

Most had over 10 years with the department. They loved working for Fayetteville and had planned on finishing out their careers here.

Joe Morton would not even discuss the problems of the department with an officer nor would the council members I tried to talk to.

Let me say, it has the appearance on the surface the mayor and council have rewarded Roberts for mistreating of his officers. How can you let a person with only 13 years retire?

Neither I nor any other officer I know was able to retire with more years of faithful service. We didn’t get three months’ pay as Roberts and Ledbetter are getting. We didn’t even get a thank you.

But we were and are the ones who put our lives on the line every time we put on the uniform. We were and are the ones who didn’t or don’t know if we would or will make it back home to see our families.

To the men and women who have stayed the course with the city of Fayetteville Police Department, most of all the ones I worked with for years, I know it has been hard on you emotionally and physically. It has taken its toll, but you made it and stood tall.

I hold a deep affection for each and every one of you guys and gals. We had some great times and great experiences together. We can talk about them until the end of our days. We could even write a book. We can laugh at some and cry at others.

You have my deepest and heart-felt respect. You did the right thing, which seems not to be the “in thing” in today’s times.

The right thing for council to do is reexamine by independent sources the old case files of the officers, who have left the department. Let them have their day.

I see a better future for all of you. You can always count on my support. Call if you need it. Most of you know how to reach me. I live in Fayetteville and plan on staying. My one regret is I didn’t stand up eight years ago. I walked away. I apologize to all of you. You all know me. I never ran way from anything.

I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. Who knows?

Tim Holt

THOJMJ@hotmail.com

Cesarean birth not so risk-free

On April 27, you ran an article by Marie McCullough, ”Women Turn to cesarean section.” I was astounded by the manipulative use of research to lull women into a false sense of security in electing a cesarean section.

While cesarean section remains an essential element of care in emergency situations, the risks to mothers and babies are substantial.

The research cited in the article focuses on a small number of possible effects and ignores the abundance of research that points to increased risk to mothers and babies.

Maternity Center Association (MCA) reviewed over 300 of the best research studies on birth. Their findings are included in “What Every Pregnant Woman Needs to Know About Cesarean Section,” and is available at: www.maternitywise.org/cesareanbooklet. This booklet also addresses the issue of vaginal birth after cesarean section (VBAC).

Women are not turning to cesarean section; care providers and the media are manipulating them.

In her article, Ms. McCullough [says] that 10 years ago cesarean sections were costly, dangerous, and dreaded. What occurred to decrease the cost, decrease the danger, and decrease the dread for major abdominal surgery?

The answer may lie in:

1. Changing social views on elective surgery. Look at the increase in cosmetic surgeries.

2. Changes in healthcare that involve an increase in litigation, shrinking payments from insurance companies, and an increase in malpractice premiums. Some care providers view elective cesarean sections as a way to reduce their liability and to have more control over their time.

3. Instant gratification/convience. Labor and birth is an uncertain experience that requires time and lots of hard work. With our ever increasing business, this may seem the perfect solution; a preslected birth date fits nicely into our day planner.

Ms. McCullough writes: “Gone are the days when women demanded drug-free, low-tech, all natural childbirth.”

Women are still demanding birth choices; it’s just that their voices are being silenced, their choices manipulated, and their power diminished by an increasing reliance on technology, sensational media reporting, and an increasing philosophy that childbirth needs to be controlled through medical intervention.

The women’s movement helped us find our voice, our choice, and our power. Women may still be drawn to elective cesarean sections, but let her arrive at her decision through evidenced-based research that gives true risks and true benefits.

Kate Fouquier, CNM, MSN

Fayetteville, Ga.

Hatcher misleads about oil ‘robbery’

“It’s highway robbery!” rants John Hatcher, pastor of Outreach International Center in Fayetteville. He goes on to quote a number of financial statistics that he thinks support his thesis and comes to the conclusion, that although legal, the oil companies are stealing from us and quotes Exodus 20:15, “You shall not steal.”

As a retired chemical engineer with 35 years experience in the chemical industry, I have had a good deal of contact with the oil companies, mostly as a customer. I had the chance to visit several of the industry’s large installations and know that each of them provides well-paid jobs for the communities they serve.

The Rev. Hatcher’s words are very dramatic but not very instructional. It is true that oil prices and gasoline, as a derivative, are up considerably over this time last year.

Yes, profits are up and I say that is good. That also means taxes collected by the federal government will be up substantially and we know that that money goes to fund a number of the federal programs that I am sure the pastor is in favor of, such as education, health care, etc.

It is important to understand that oil prices have a very large influence on gasoline prices; however, gasoline refining requires very large investments and has been a poor business for at least 20 years.

That is one reason we have not seen any capacity added in the United States in 30 years. If this was such a good business we would have seen refineries popping up like Wal-Mart stores.

It is easy to cast stones and talk about gluttony and the seven deadly sins, but offering no solutions is not helpful. There are some solutions that are available to us.

The United States is too dependent on oil import, but the only time this is a priority is when we pay higher prices for gasoline. As soon as prices go down we quickly ignore the problem.

This country has vast coal resources that we should exploit. This can be done in an environmentally responsible manner and would create jobs here in the United States.

We also have had a nuclear option available to us for years but thanks to all the extreme environmental groups this has not been allowed to develop.

Rev. Hatcher, before you start screaming, “Highway Robbery!” remember another of the Ten Commandments, Exodus 20: 16: “Thou shall not bear false witness.”

If you are not sure, become informed before you start ranting and raving in the media. As a community leader you have a responsibility to be factual and tell the whole story.

Marino M. Fuentes

Peachtree City, Ga.

Fonda, Kerry are Vietnam traitors

Re: Terry Garlock’s column in The Citizen, May 18, 2005.

I came home from Vietnam in 1967 and did not understand the attitude of the American people. Why were we spit upon when we wore our uniform off base?

I was sent to Germany in 1968 and the German people showed us more respect than the American people did here at home.

I was young and didn’t give it much thought, just went on and completed 21 years and retired.

I agree with your article; I am mad that no one has stood up for us. Some treat Fonda and Kerry as if they are special Americans to be awarded. They both should be tried by a jury of my peers and hanged as traitors to their country. Just my opinion.

John E. Noel, U.S. Army (Retired)

Nnoelje@wmconnect.com

To Garlock’s column: Amen

“Vietnam 30 years later”: All I can say is amen!

Tony Muth

Member, Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club 1972-75

Tony41455@aol.com

Stop buying from puppy mills

A little ditty to begin a call to action: how much is that doggie in the window? That one with the waggly tail? How much is that doggie in the window? I do hope that doggie’s for sale! Well he is, but you have no idea at what cost.

There exists two types of dogs trapped in pet store windows. The young ones who have no idea what awaits them and who spend most of their day wagging delightedly at ogling faces while gnawing on their industrial plastic flooring beds.

And those that break your heart: the older and atrophied ones, too big for their cages and familiar to the misery life in a pet store brings; who can only look out with dead but pleading eyes. They are miserable and confused.

I make it a practice to (try and) never look into pet stores selling dogs; it’s too hard for me to contemplate their life and the conditions they exist briefly in (yes, briefly; the life of a pet store dog is but a flicker).

On Saturday at Southlake Mall, however, I couldn’t help myself. I paid for it dearly.

As I entered the store, I took in the crowd of usuals gawking at the puppies (of course ignoring the older dogs) and I fell into the trap. There was only one difference. My heart broke for these animals.

You could see it in my face; or rather, beginning to trickle down my face. The longer I stood there, the more distressed and furious I became. Damned if I wasn’t going to save at least one of those dogs.

Of course, I realized the paradox facing me: an activist, I fought the very puppy mills I would be assisting by rescuing one of the dogs.

After thinking it would be better to take home an older dog (such as the painfully thin and underdeveloped weimaraner sharing a tiny cage with a glazed german shepherd) temptation overwhelmed me and I requested one of the younger dogs, a husky with the most piercing blue eyes imaginable and whose silky coat was yellowed with urine and feces.

They have puppy rooms in those stores, areas where you can get to know your future credit card payment personally.

The pup hit the floor with a walk indicating underdeveloped and underused muscles, heart-wrenchingly delighted with the freedom, but after a few moments threw himself into my lap and nuzzled me close, desperate for attention. He would not let me put him down.

Dogs in pet stores come from something activists call “puppy mills.” I know most of you have heard the term, and have probably felt a little shock when you think about them but ultimately don’t ponder them too much or often.

This husky, like all other pet store puppies, came from a bitch that spent her entire life breeding litter after litter. When weaned (maybe even a little before), the pups are removed so the she can breed again.

When she can no longer breed, she is euthanized. Humanely, if lucky. If not, she faces starvation after being thrown out (or rather thrown away) or she may have her head bashed in or neck broken. Either way, her death will be a painful and lonely one, the perfect compliment to her degrading life.

A pet store worker, making my gorge rise, confirmed this little fact by saying they rarely carry females because the breeders invariably keep them.

The puppies produced are parceled out. They are denied key bonds with mother and litter-mates and may spend the rest of their lives kept separate from other dogs. This, of course, leads to social problems (assuming they are given the opportunity to interact).

The husky pup clung to me because he is young, scared and lonely. He needed me to hold and to talk to him because, well, he needed a pack. All dogs do. Attention-deprivation can be as devastating to animals as it is to humans.

It hit me like a ton of bricks to realize this dog was about $1,200 (well above the price the store would have purchased him for). Microchip (boy, let me tell you, I would love to meet the vet who treats these dogs) and loathsome money-back guarantee included.

I became desperate, partly because I in two minutes bonded with the scamp. I, a poor college student, could not afford him. Savings, credit card and all.

The employees probably could tell I was becoming a little emotional when I pleaded to know which animal was the cheapest. Initially I was told it would be one of the larger dogs; apparently they depreciate in value as they age.

The cheapest ended up being a scruffy little matted poodle in a cage meant for a dog the size of a chihuahua. Still, at about $800, unaffordable.

As was the sweet female (yes, female, which means she was probably incapable of breeding and therefore worthless to the mill owner) basset hound at about $850.

And then the tears began. Believe you me, when I cry it’s a big deal. And I was bawling like a baby right there in the mall. My heart had completely shattered into a thousand little pieces that I am still not sure I can ever recover and glue back together.

In front of my eyes, I keep seeing those dogs: the hope, the wiggly joy of the puppies, and the deadness in the eyes of the older dogs. Flashes of the longhaired dachshund that never woke up. The weimeraner just looking at me. Dead, I’ll say it again and swear it to my grave, his eyes were dead yet pleading.

It got worse, because I know the fate awaiting those dogs. A fate almost worse than living their lives in tiny plastic cages with no exercise and no companionship. No snausages, no frisbees, no walkies.

They are going to end up like their mothers. Dying painfully and alone never having known love or freedom.

They are the unwanted, the unnecessary, the products of a bloody and putrid system dubbed ever so cutely as “puppy mills.”

They were bred to be mass-marketed, but the market is lukewarm. And we all know what happens when consumers reject a product: it is thrown out. Discarded. Except these aren’t Furbies or Beanie Babies. These are intelligent creatures. They are lives.

I wrap this up with some final thoughts and brainstorms: something must be done about this system. I am only one person (granted, very sad and very mad, but still only one) and I cannot rescue these dogs alone.

The system will take years to destroy, but destroyed it can be. Products do not exist without markets. So I propose a plan and would really appreciate support from anyone: start locally.

Write letters, make phone calls asking the Southlake Mall’s and other pet stores to stop carrying dogs (and maybe eventually all animals).

Feel up to it, and go further: root out puppy mill owners and ask them personally. We need to let Southlake Mall and similar places know we will not stand for this, that their treatment of these and all dogs is intolerable.

Or go more directly: convince them (pet stores such as Southlake Mall) to give older dogs not sold to local humane societies.

A hitch in the plan arises but is solvable: they are a business and therefore require money. So I propose the start of a fund to help pay for these dogs (perhaps the pet store owners could even be wheedled to giving up the older dogs for a greatly reduced fee).

Yes, I am aware of the paradox of destroying the system by supporting the system. But if someone can find a better way, please let me know.

I would love to have assistance in this endeavor, be it from individuals or groups. Taking a stand is the only way to make a difference. I think mine is clear.

Spay and neuter your pets, and save a life by getting an animal from your local shelter; it may be the most effective way of stopping puppy mills in their tracks.

Liz Haren

empress_liz85@hotmail.com