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Letters to the Editor

Danen Clarke’s smile friend’s last memory

This is Brock Gardner, one of the boys that was with [Danen Clarke] in his last moments. I just wanted to thank you for writing the article about him. It means so much to me and the things that were said were understatement.

I only wish that you were fortunate enough to meet him. You should have seen how happy he was that night.

I have been best friends with him since I was 5 or 6, and that night was the happiest I had seen him since I met him.

While we were out there, I never saw that big, wonderful Danen Clarke smile come off his face until he fell under and called for help.

I wish I could explain the joy and happiness that I saw in his smile and in his eyes. I had always thought of him as being invincible and that if I had any problem at all, that if anyone could fix it, it would be Danen.

That is why when me and the other boy could not find the first boy that went in, we called to Danen to help us.

I looked at him as being invincible and that nothing could ever harm him. Danen and I even made a club called the “Classics.” We made it because we knew that if we were alone we would never push ourselves to do some of the things that we had accomplished, but together we made each other who we are.

I do not know why I have told you this, but I just wanted to thank you for the article and it means the world to me.

It hurt to see that the mayor did not show sympathy and basically blame the whole ordeal on us. Thanks again and hope you have a great day.

Brock Gardner
MOWRY55(at)aol.com

Tactless PTC mayor resembles Chirac

It appears that Peachtree City has our own Jacques Chirac in Mayor Steve Brown.

The tragic death of Danen Clarke evoked much sadness and disbelief among those who knew him. I did not, even though my heart went out to them and of course his family as I listened to the litany of praise from his friends.

His accomplishments speak for themselves. Then on the same evening news and the next day in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution our mayor felt it necessary to comment, “He should have known better.”

What compassion.

Mayor Brown, I hope you know better than to count on a vote from me.

Phil Heise
Peachtree City, Ga.

Remember Clarke died helping friend

Danen Clarke accomplished what he was to do in life and now he gets to go to Heaven and play. The rest of us still have things to do on our “To Do List”.

Danen died playing with the father he loved, who showed him how to be an exceptional person and with friends who understood they soon would be going in separate directions.

No one knew how soon Danen would be leaving.

He died trying to help a friend and in doing so, he taught many in our community about the danger of the unseen power of moving water.

He died giving to others. What a glorious end to a gloriously wonderful life.

We should all be so lucky.

Feel sorry for those who never got to cross paths in life with Danen or the Clarkes. They are the unlucky ones.

Kathie Cheney
Peachtree City, Ga.

Somebody fix this stopped-up ditch

Take a look at the drainage ditch on the southside of the Chick-Fil-A parking lot between the Chick-Fil-A and Ramah Road on the southside of Fayetteville.

This ditch has not been cleaned out for two years. The water pools there and has become a grand breeding ground for mosquitoes. No one seems to notice it.

I walk by the ditch during my daily exercise routine and am amazed that this condition exists.

Richard Carson
Fayetteville, Ga.

D.A. Ballard honors rule of law, tells the truth

I don’t know this fellow Mulholland you say is a south Georgia district attorney. I guess he’s important, though, since you ran a lead story stating some anonymous official in his office had been shocked and stunned some two weeks earlier.

I hope the anonymous official recovered as it now appears Mr. Mulholland is also shocked and stunned, or is a little colicky and might need some help. I rush to his aid.

Mr. M., Scott Ballard is new at his job, despite 20 years practice, and may not have read your slant on jurisprudence.

I’m sure he didn’t know he was not to appear in his private capacity as a witness when so ordered by a subpoena.

When subpoenaed by the defendant, it likely never occurred to him he ought to call and clear his testimony through you, or that a witness who is also a district attorney is not required like other witnesses to tell the truth under oath as known to him. Scott probably didn’t learn rules like that.

I surely hope anybody who is shocked or stunned that Scott Ballard honors the rule of law, obeys processes of the court and tells the truth under oath will get over it, as it appears Scott’s integrity is solid.

About that colic, Mr. M., see a gastroenterologist, as at your age an inverted swat on the backside may not work. If your doctor can get your alimentary canal to working right, he may also advise that the newsprint you employ in the outhouse doesn’t have to have your name in it.

Charles T. Ballard
Fayetteville, Ga.

Long-time Fayetteville attorney Charles Ballard is the father of Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard.

Could it be that the DA knew the facts of case?

I commend Scott Ballard for standing up for his beliefs. He allows his conscience and God to guide his actions, not the opinions of uniformed persons with their own political agendas.

How many of the people who are criticizing him took the time to research the original child molestation case?

Oh, I forgot, if you are convicted of a crime, you must be as bad a person as any other convict.

I definitely do not condone child abuse, neglect, and especially molestation. However, I know Scott Ballard to be a man of strong faith and one of the most honest men I have ever met.

Could it be that he knew a little more about the Jeffrey David Allen case than the rest of us?

To drive over 400 miles in his personal car, knowing he was going to face ridicule for his actions when he returned, shows me a man with true character.

To the person that wrote in a previous Free Speech column, “I guess you feel obligated to protect molesters as I have come to learn that as a trial lawyer your law practice had a history of getting these guys off”: I am sure you “have come to learn” this information through proper research and not in the barber chair.

Scott Ballard prepares for trial better than any defense attorney I know in the area.

Maybe you have heard about a document called the United States Constitution and the rights it grants to every person.

There is one little line in there, let’s see, oh, I remember: You are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. A court of law, not a court of public opinion.

The prosecution in the cases I assume you researched obviously did not prove the accused guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Now, back to the real world: all that research is too boring and takes too much time. It is so much easier to just say Scott Ballard and his law practice just gets “these guys off.”

I support your right to disagree with Scott’s decision to testify for a convicted child molester.

Scott, I commend you for your integrity, wisdom and courage for standing up for what you believe is right. Do not waver from these characteristics as they are the foundation of a great man. May you continue to treat each case fairly and obtain all of the extenuating facts that may be present.

As for any ridicule for your actions in the Jeffrey David Allen case, remember, people with integrity have been persecuted for centuries. It is just much more convenient in 2005.

May God give you the wisdom of Solomon as you make the many difficult and life-changing decisions that you will certainly face as the district attorney. I am honored to call Scott Ballard my friend.

Chris Holt
Ellijay, Ga.

Why was Allen even out?

Thanks for the informative articles on the Allen case. I would love to see future reporting which attempts to answer the following question:

“Why was a guy guilty of molesting five (of his?) students, guilty of trying to kiss two students, guilty of nine counts of obscene phone calls, and guilty of eight counts of harassing phone calls not already in jail?”

I would love quotes from the D.A.s who prosecuted those cases.

Not trying to Monday morning quarterback. You presented good information. I’m just Joe Angry Citizen who wants to know.

Eric Ferrell
ferrellguy(at)yahoo.com

Canada: It’s not so great

Kudos to the Rev. David Epps in his candid response to the negative comments made by our Canadian neighbors.

The other thing he failed to mention is that a lot of Canadians are crossing the border because they have to wait months for various medical procedures that they can get at the blink of an eye here in the U.S.

People in this country should look at the massive problems with the national healthcare system in Canada before they wish that upon the U.S.

People love to bad-mouth the U.S. but are ready to take the money when the foreign aid checks start flowing. Maybe its time to put a stop-pay on some of those aid checks. God Bless America, the President, and our troops.

William Dent
Fayetteville, Ga.

After the whining in Free Speech, here are some good things in PTC

With all the negative whining and complaining I read each week in Free Speech, I wonder if our citizens even comprehend what we have here.

Our family represents more than 30 years living in Peachtree City, three generations, six households, growing up here and raising our children in this wonderland of the South.

When our dad moved us here in the early seventies, he was so excited, as if he’d found some secluded, private paradise exclusively ours.

It has not disappointed us, and we are all still here, raising another and yet another generation of Peachtree Citians.

All this is to say to the people, ”Don’t take for granted what we have here.” It is special.

We have grown, and changed and our city officials and long-time residents are desperately trying to keep it alive and safe and precious for us all.

We’ve always had the very best fire department, emergency response teams and police protection money can buy. They are extremely dedicated, highly trained and equipped for the small town they so devotedly serve.

You can’t live someplace this long without finding your family in need of their assistance at least once, sometimes more. Numerous times they have responded to our needs quickly, professionally and with compassion. With our father, and our mother too, in some very critical times.

During the past Fourth of July weekend, just before the fireworks, we had to call for help for our mother with chest pain, and the first ones to arrive on the scene were EMTs on bicycles.

They said they knew the rescue squad would be slow getting through the traffic and they were here in minutes getting her stabilized.

Did y’all even know we had EMTs on bikes? I didn’t until then. They were awesome!

When all was calm again, my relief and gratitude was expressed once again, in words I’ve spoken many times before, “I love our town.”

Another time I spoke these words was when our indoor cat got lost outside. We feared he had fallen into the drain on our streets. We called the city maintenance and within the hour they were out climbing into the drains, looking for our cat.

Unfortunately he was never found. But I was still impressed with the interest of the city to come to our, however insignificant, need, realizing it was important to us.

By the way, did anyone notice how clean the parkway was, less than two hours following the parade on the Fourth? I love our town.

Our police department also deserves our praise and respect. They protect our children from Internet predators. I have been very impressed with this undercover operation and its continuing efforts to keep our children safe.

As we have grown and continue to grow, bad things happen, unfortunately, but when they do, how many times have we heard our chief of police say, “Not in our town!”

In closing, I speak for my entire family, when I say, “Thank you all,” and I am proud to be living in Peachtree City, Ga., U.S.A. Don’t take it for granted, people.

Melody LaTella Ragsdale
Peachtree City, Ga.

Hold Ga. parole board accountable

America’s most valuable, and most innocent, resource is under attack by convicted sex offenders that have been released from our prisons or were illegal aliens that have been allowed to walk over the Mexican border unfettered.

Joseph Duncan, a convicted child sex offender, who “allegedly” kidnapped and repeatedly raped Shasta Groene and her brother, Dylan, for six weeks, was just arrested in Idaho. Luckily, she was still among the living.

John Couey, another convicted and released child predator, kidnapped and raped Jessica Lunsford and buried her alive in Florida a few weeks ago.

Richard Allen Davis, who kidnapped and murdered Polly Klaas 10 years ago in California, was a convicted felon who had been released by the pardons and parole board.

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, there are approximately 375,000 convicted sex offenders who have been released from prison and are currently living among us. Rehabilitation of these predators is all but impossible and, yet, they are released by parole officials to prey on children all across this country.

The time has come to force our pardon and parole boards to be held accountable for crimes committed by the people they release.

Here’s an idea: If a paroled inmate is convicted of a crime after their release from prison, then the parole board members who voted for the release go to jail, as well.

Adding to the problem we face are the millions of illegal aliens that are allowed to walk into our country and commit crimes against our citizens.

Cornelio Rivera Zamites, was just arrested in Georgia for the murder of a 4-year-old girl just outside of Gainesville. He is one of many illegal aliens committing crimes against American citizens, but that is a letter for another day.

Kevin D. Arnold
Fayetteville, Ga.

July 4th: A week of stark contrasts

The week of 4 July 2005 has been a week of contrast: 4 July was a national day of celebrating our 229th birthday; 6 July was a day of celebrating the announcement of the 2012 Olympics to be held in London; and on 7 July, we were reminded that evil people place zero value in innocent lives with the bombings in London. Freedom is not free.

This comes at a time when the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps are having difficulty filling their ranks with volunteers.

Recently, the Army’s chief of staff pointed out that during World War II, our nation’s population was 140 million, and we placed 9 percent in uniform. Today, our population is over 260 million, and the Army has difficulty attracting .04 percent of that population as volunteers on an annual basis.

I am hopeful that this past week will serve as a reminder for all of us, that if we are not willing to serve and sacrifice, then our own freedoms and liberties may be tenuous. Hopefully, 7 July will serve as a wake-up call.

Jack C. Wheeler
Major General, USA (Ret)
Fayetteville, Ga.

Is 4th celebration too large for PTC?

Most Peachtree City citizens look forward to the annual fireworks display. Unfortunately, the lack of crowd management is bound to lead to someone being seriously injured unless changes are made.

I attended the display and sat near the boat docks on Battery Way. While police officers and EMT personnel were on hand, by show time there was complete gridlock.

Had anyone needed help, there was little chance of assistance getting through the tangle of people and golf carts.

Some revelers were shooting off fireworks in the midst of a crowd. It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to see the grim possibilities there.

Playing fields on which citizens used to be allowed to sit for the display are now forbidden, and the crowds grow each year.

Simply put, there are more people and less space for them, a dangerous combination.

Should we open up more places for people to watch the fireworks display? Should it be held elsewhere, so that a high school stadium might be utilized? Should golf carts be kept out of certain areas during this event? Has our city simply outgrown the ability to host this event safely?

I do not blame the Peachtree City police who, in my opinion, are doing a difficult job very well. Blame, in fact, is not my purpose.

Instead, I am hoping to inspire our city leaders to consider the risks at which citizens and visitors are being placed. Please, mayor and city council members, keep our families safe and our city’s good name intact.

Cynthia Smith
Peachtree City, Ga.

F’ville police are doing great on Bates

I’m responding to the letter by John Gaddy (July 6, 2005, “Haven’t F’ville police got better things to do than hide on Bates?”) about the Fayetteville police patrol car watching the “useless” stop sign intersection at Beauregard and Bates Avenue.

To those of us who live off Bates Avenue, the stop sign IS critical.

I can’t tell you how often I’ve prayed that oncoming cars actually stop at the sign so they don’t t-bone me as I turn right or left onto Beauregard.

Many cars barely slow down, treating the stop sign more like a yield.

My husband has actually witnessed a vehicle pass another vehicle that was stopped at the stop sign.

I’m thrilled to see the police car parked in the Apple Orchard neighborhood. As a concerned taxpayer, I don’t consider protecting my safety from those drivers who deliberately disobey traffic signs to be a waste of time or money.

Carrie Lorfano
Fayetteville, Ga.

Democrats were in charge of several wars

I wish to comment on a letter to the editor written by Kevin D. Arnold. Mr. Arnold is quick to jump on the liberal Democratic Party members for failure to “prosecute” a war.

Obviously, Mr. Arnold did not study his history.

The Democrats held the presidency before, during and after World War II. They also had the majority in Congress.

Before and during the Korean War the Democrats held the presidency and the majority in both houses of Congress.

Does Mr. Arnold remember Presidents Kennedy and Johnson? They were Democrats during the prosecution of the Vietnam War and the Congress was in control of the Democrats.

Mr. Arnold has specifically demonstrated the traits of the conservative right: “If you don’t know the truth, resort to name-calling.”

P.S. Where I say “prosecute” a war, I mean for failure to “prosecute” an unjust war.

Daniel R. Norris
Fayetteville, Ga.