Wednesday, September 29, 1999

The most important lesson to be learned from the traffic crisis now looming in Peachtree City is what happens when you depend on the government, especially the federal government, for anything.

Fayette gives kids stones for bread
By LEE N. HOWELL
Politically Speaking

In the Holy Scriptures, Jesus once asks rhetorically, “What parent, if their children asked for bread, would give them a stone?”

Pass the poison, please; I'm hungry
BILLY MURPHY
Laugh Lines

 

Everywhere you look today, you see another report on what is bad for us. From infrared lights that show us the invisible stains in our hotel rooms, to airplane oxygen that pollutes our lungs, the world, they say, is killing us.

Letters to the Editor

Board of Ed., have we gotten your attention?

Ladies and gentlemen of the Fayette County Board of Education:

How does it feel to have sentenced kids to mediocrity?

To the citizens of Fayette County.

There are many good reasons why SPLOST lost

By reading the local papers, one would think the voters in Fayette County who defeated the SPLOST are selfish and mean-spirited people who hate children. We have been referred to as “not giving a damn about its children or their education.” I beg to differ. I care very much about our kids. Our children are in a private school in Fayette County. We pay above and beyond to educate our children there. Education is important to us. Our taxes still support the public schools, just like everybody else.

BOE needs to put more money into real education

I have a few suggestions for our school board. Instead of wringing their hands and whining about the taxpayers of this county not responding to their demands for more money for the “children,” they need to seek solutions, not excuses. There are so many alternatives I can't imagine why none have been considered.

How to raise money to build new schools, the sensible way

Now that the tax increase plot known as SPLOST has been turned away, we must attempt to deflect the school administration's peevish efforts to take out its disappointment on the children they are charged with educating. Like spoiled brats, school administrators have threatened trailers, double sessions, bigger classes, etc. These may have been idle threats to motivate the voters to let them have their way with the sales tax, but if they begin carrying out their threats we'll have to make changes to our board of education at the first opportunity next year.

What don't the voters want? After long list, what do you want?

I read online with interest your facts of the sales tax voting. I really did not know until then how many apathetic people we had in Fayette County.

If board of education can't educate our children without SPLOST revenues, they should resign

The resounding defeat of the SPLOST tax was a clear sign that county residents are fed up with runaway growth. The results should send a clear message to the politicians in our city and our county, and to the school board itself.

Price for voters' shortsightedness to be borne by children

The Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) is now history, at least for the moment. We can be assured that it will return, or something like it, in the near future. The one reality of living in Fayette County is that growth is going to occur. A significant number of those voting seemed to believe that by denying the school district this financing vehicle, growth will somehow be discouraged here. It is unfortunate that the schools and the students in the county must pay to perpetuate this myth.

SMHS student sounds off about SPLOST defeat

I'm writing on the recent, pointless rejection of SPLOST. Currently I am a junior at Starr's Mill High School.

'Yes' voter resents BOE's 'heavy-handed' treatment of voters

On Sept. 21, I held my nose and voted for the special purpose local option sales tax. The olfactory protection was necessary because of the behavior of the Fayette County School Board in their attempt to shove this tax down the throats of county voters. I voted yes in spite of the tactics of the school board and the other advocates of the SPLOST.

Fayette residents already paying too much in wasted taxes

The Fayette County school superintendent, John DeCotis, has threatened Fayette County residents with more trailers for public schools students following the defeat of the special purpose local option sales tax.

Here's what PTC cop on the grass was doing

As I scanned The Citizen Sept. 22 looking for the SPLOST results, I came across a letter addressed to Jim Basinger, the Peachtree City manager. The author of the letter, Vicki Brigham of Peachtree City, was concerned about a police officer who parks on the grass during an off-duty job.

`Shootout' on guns, part 3

Thank you, Ellis Bee, for supplying me with more ammunition to continue our editorial “shoot-out” (forgive my terminology) about the sense of owning and carrying concealed, loaded handguns just in case a crazy person shooting to kill might happen upon one's workplace.

SPLOST defeat sends obvious message

The defeat of SPLOST should make obvious a message that needs to be recognized and understood by those who supported it. That is, not to continue to blindly ignore the factors that brought us to the point of having to deal with the school situation as a potential catastrophe. Yes, there are real problems.

Board's smoke and mirrors won't work on voters

It is unfortunate that [Fayette County Board of Education Chairman Debbie] Condon is embarrassed to live in Fayette County. While I agree with her attitude about voter apathy, I most certainly disagree with her attitude and comments about the people of this county not caring about the children.

Fayette BOE seem to be very slow learners

The children of Georgia's public schools have consistently scored at the very bottom of the national rankings. It could be said that they are slow learners. But who can blame the kids in Fayette County? They are led by a board of education and an administration that are very slow learners.

Kids get put out of the schoolbus right into thunder and lightning storm

If I threw my child out of my house and made him stand on top of a hill in the middle of a thunderstorm, I would be an irresponsible parent at best.

Sick child well cared for at local hospital

On June 26, our 7-year-old daughter was taken to the emergency room of Fayette Community Hospital.

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