I think that every resident of Fayette County needs to know that Sen. Ronnie Chance (R-Tyrone) voted FOR SB 458, which is a bill that would allow students from a non-accredited district (Clayton County) to attend accredited schools (Fayette County). All the parents would have to do is provide transportation. Voters need to contact their state representatives to let it be known that we are not paying Fayette County property taxes to educate Clayton County students. Sen. Valencia Seay (D-Clayton Co.) voted against the bill.

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Has the Fayette Board of Education developed a plan to defend the Fayette schools against the upcoming invasion of Clayton County school children that is guaranteed to arrive be here on Sept. 1, 2008, or will they sit on their duffs and be swept over by said invasion?

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In light of the impending lose of accreditation by Clayton County schools, a bill has been passed by the Georgia Senate that would require public school systems to enroll students from other public districts or schools that are not accredited, on probation for accreditation or have failing schools. Under Senate Bill 458, parents can opt to have their child attend another school within their school system, enroll and transport their child to a public school in another system or request a scholarship for a private school. SB 458 states, “if a school system or school loses or fails to attain accreditation, a student shall be entitled to attend another public school or receive a scholarship to attend a private school ... the public school system shall accept the student subject only to space being available.” The same options are available to students at schools that have been designated “needs improvement” for seven consecutive years. If this bill is passed and signed into law, Fayette County schools may be required to enroll students from Clayton if that district loses its accreditation on Sept. 1, 2008. This legislation could have a monumental impact over time on Fayette’s school system if it is also required to accept students from failing schools. Unless the No Child Left Behind Act is changed, more schools will eventually evolve to “needs improvement” status over the years. All students throughout the state deserve the best education possible, and it is understandable that state legislators would want to provide a means for students to seek better opportunities if their districts or schools fail to meet quality standards. The Fayette County School System supports this endeavor but is opposed to systems being required to enroll students from other counties and subsequently forcing taxpayers to support the cost of educating nonresident students. Although the school system receives state funding for every student enrolled, it only covers a little over half the cost; the rest is paid locally by property taxes. Residents in opposition to SB 458 are encouraged to contact Fayette’s state legislators. Contact information can be found at www.fayettecountyga.gov/elections/us_and_state_elected_officials.htm.

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We should all understand that Clayton County’s accreditation problems will soon be a problem to Fayette County residents, since Clayton Countians will be able to legally place their children in our schools. And why not? Who wouldn’t want to jump the county line into the best schools in Georgia without having to pay the taxes? Let’s understand that some of the biggest problems with low performance has more to do with illegal immigrants and gangs. We used to live in Forest Park, so I know of what I speak. Look at the solutions cooked up by the school board. “Hey, let’s open a school where 70 percent of the instruction is in Spanish” (Unidos Dual Language Charter School). Now, wasn’t that a good idea? The county is lawless, with prostitution, drugs, gangs and illegal immigrants running the show. During a particularly disturbing New Year’s Eve, I called 911 as my children sought shelter on the floor from dozens of idiots shooting guns in the air. We called the police as we regularly witnessed the procession of 12-to-14-year-old hookers making their rounds on Friday night. The police NEVER came. Why? I’m thankful we were able to move to such a wonderful town as Fayetteville, but I’m frightened to think that what drove us away from that awful place is hot on our heels.

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Hooray for Deborah Lockhart. It’s about time someone stood up to those abusive bullies at Sandy Creek High School. I had to remove my child from there because of the abuse, but not before they caused me enough trouble to almost destroy the life of my child and my family. I’m not surprised that they had her arrested. That’s their trademark. If any little problem arises with a student, they never try to help that student. They try with all their might to cause as much damage to their lives as possible. I hope Ms. Lockhart goes scot-free, as she should.

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My daughter informed me today of the new dress code being implemented by the [her school]: No plain t-shirts, no collegiate hoodies, no zip-front hoodies (a kid got written up for wearing a Van’s t-shirt, which was considered “gang-related”). Let’s follow the logic, shall we? Once again, the many are being punished for the actions of a few. That seems status quo for Fayette County schools these days (i.e., the restroom fiasco of 2007). If there need be such strict control over apparel at school, then why not institute school uniforms, like so many systems do? What would be the argument against it? That it takes away the students’ freedom of choice? Obviously, that’s already being accomplished. That it would cost the parents too much money to clothe their kids? To the contrary: much less than what our average students adorn themselves with. The pros: taking the focus off fashion, so kids can get to what they are there for: learning. And let’s not forget that once we accept the school’s interpretation of what a “gang member” looks like, inevitably there will be innocent kids caught up in the zero tolerance/schoolhouse to jailhouse mentality that unfailingly sweeps our children quickly through “the system,” labeling growing, learning children (prone to make a mistake, mind you, they are not robots) into the wonderful world of juvenile courts and criminal records. Wikipedia’s definition of zero tolerance policy: the concept of compelling persons in positions of authority, who might otherwise exercise their discretion in making subjective judgments regarding the severity of a given offense, to impose a pre-determined punishment regardless of individual culpability or “extenuating circumstances.” Clayton County, for example, has successfully prosecuted every single case forwarded to juvenile court from schools, in several successive years, with a 100 percent conviction rate. What court in the land has a 100 percent conviction rate? Thanks to zero tolerance policy, now many juvenile courts do. So the next time you send your sweet little girl in a plain pink t-shirt (instead of the ones marketing every inappropriate “idol of the moment” for our new grown-up 6-year-olds) remember that you could be fating her to juvenile court for “gang-related activity.” Now, won’t that look good on a college ap? And, by the way- even if we had uniforms, the gang members will find a way to identify themselves (a twist of the hair, certain eyeshadow color, etc.)

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Thanks to Matt Ramsey for taking up Dan Lakly’s goal to defeat district voting in Fayette County. Matt is a true representative of all the people of Fayette County. Virgil Fludd, Roberta Abdul-Salaam and Robert Jordan will do everything in their power to control what happens in Fayette County and make it just like Clayton County. When Rep. Lakly was in office, they did everything they could to discredit him. They will do whatever it takes to make Fayette County theirs. Thanks, Matt. Job well done. You have done a great job during your first session. Great things are in store for you.

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It’s too bad Matt Ramsey is following Glenn Richardson’s lead on gutting the budgets of local communities. Many local governments are horrified about the huge cuts. Gov. Perdue calls it “irresponsible” and he predicted the legislature will raid the rainy day funds reserved for emergencies, leaving us vulnerable. I would love to have some extra cash in my pocket, but I’m also practical enough to know we need more roads and reservoirs for our water crisis. I remember when the elder President Bush said “no new taxes” and we took a beating. Glenn Richardson’s pig in a poke is going to come back on us too.

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Matt Ramsey trying to take credit for defeating district voting is like Al Gore taking credit for the Internet.

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The state cutting the car tax might not be the best move in our present economy, but how about giving Rep. Matt Ramsey some slack. He’s an inexperienced first-time elected official and he’s going to make some mistakes. I think Steve Brown is more right than wrong on this one and I wouldn’t discount his comments as sour grapes. Sure, Rep. Ramsey is pandering for votes and all politicians do that. The only thing that scares me with the tax change being a constitutional amendment is the state won’t be able to save us if they land in a major budget crisis because it would require changing the constitution again. I guess it could also be solved by a large tax increase, but I don’t think they have the willpower to make that kind of move.

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The tree butchers in Tyrone have been hard at work in Shamrock Park. With climate change a reality, why would you cut down half the trees in a park? I guess the asphalt trucks will be arriving next.

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Three years ago the Tyrone mayor and council developed a plan for Shamrock Park, putting a new library and a new town hall and police station there. Grace Caldwell, Gloria Furr and Judy Jefferson fought to keep Shamrock Park from being used for that or for any other purpose other than an open area. Now that the old mayor and council are out of the way, it has become evident as to their real motive for opposing the park’s development: they want to turn Shamrock Park into a community septic drain field. According to the newspaper they have already begun checking the soil to see if their plan will work. This plan should really “help” the downtown businesses.

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What is up with the Braelinn Kroger shopping center? What a dump. I hear Health E-Station is leaving. The credit union is next. Ginza has been vacant for years. Please, someone save this shopping center before you keep building new stuff. That gas station must be bringing in new customers. Hey, to the person who owns this. We are tired of this eyesore. We may have to boycott your shopping center completely. I know the other grocery chain would love this. Why does PTC put up with this old run-down place? The new dental office and retirement community should be involved as well. I wouldn’t want my business to open there, and it can’t last a year. I can count the dozens of poor people that try and open a store there only to see it fail.

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To the naive innocent who was a jury foreman for the bogus DUI arrest: First, thank you for serving. Some day you may be on the jury trying MY bogus arrest in this wonderful paradise. Second, as to your hope that the new police chief will direct the PTC PD in a different direction, understand that they AND the judge are here for two reasons: 1. Add to the city’s revenues; and 2. enforce the law — in that order. The former chief and his squad of blue-lighted tax collectors would never have gotten away with the way they treat people if they hadn’t had the full backing of every town council under which they served. After all, they do work for the city; they are not on an equal footing with those who are currently spending our tax dollars in ways that the electorate never intended. Welcome to Joja.

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It’s nice that you praised the person picking up trash and said he was a role model for your child, but couldn’t YOU be a role model for your child and set an example by getting out to help?

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Thank you to the couple who wrote the Free Speech concerning the family next to them not tipping their server. People should be aware that servers make $2.15 an hour. It never goes up. We do not get raises, and, yes, we pay a percentage of our sales in taxes, so when you fail to tip or leave 10 percent, you are costing the person money to wait on you. Twenty percent should be the appropriate amount to leave. Too bad everyone is not as thoughtful as you. Servers are here to make a living like everyone else.

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To the person criticizing the teacher for the duct tape incident saying had it been your child, you would be seeking legal counsel: Why not adjust the child’s attitude at home FIRST before looking for an easy way out and a quick buck? I’m beginning to believe that in America the first words out of a baby’s mouth is, “I’ll sue.”

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To all of those considering renting an apartment: I am a U.S. citizen, but am not a standard white Caucasian. I am not a burden to society, having never been on any type of public aid. I pay taxes like everyone else. I have no criminal background. I should have the same rights as any other citizen. I went to [an apartment complex] to rent an apartment. I had more than sufficient income to pay my rental payments, but I was denied an apartment. Even after I offered to pay up front for the entire term of the lease, I was still denied an apartment. I know that there was no other way to interpret their decision other than they were discriminating against me due to my race/ethnic background. I have friends that live in their complex that have noticed similar discrimination. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sent a tester to their complex and they found evidence that they treat people of various ethnic backgrounds differently. HUD said that I needed more evidence to take my complaint any further. After over a year of headache in trying to do something about this through two different government agencies, I feel that writing this letter is the only real way to truly accomplish my goal. I want everyone to know how they treat people that they see as different.

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To the American driver: You can help. How dumb are we? We’re playing right into the hands of the oil companies. They call it supply and demand. I call it greed. The more gas we use, the higher the prices. There’s talk (if you haven’t heard) about a shortage of gas this summer. You know what that means? You’ll be paying $4-$5 a gallon for gas. Exactly what the oil companies want. Let’s face it, they’re in the oil business. We all moan about what can be done. So let’s do something about it. Start car-pooling or use mass transit. Let your vehicle sit a day or so. Don’t drive. The HOV lanes are empty. Let’s fill them up with cars. If the demand for gas comes down, so will the price of gas. Not only do we pay more for gas, but the cost of utilities and food will go up as well. This is going to destroy our economy and our way of life because of the oil companies’ greed and ignorance. We ALL need to work together and conserve gas. We are resourceful and need to tap into our own natural resources: our power of being Americans.

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Since Cal Thomas (as well as many others) holds Obama responsible for his pastor’s words, will he do the same for McCain? Where is the outrage at McCain for calling Rod Parsley his “spiritual guide?” You know, the same Rod Parsley who advocates it to be our duty to destroy Islam by advocating a holy war. The same Rod Parsley who vehemently rails against gays. And this is McCain’s admitted “spiritual guide.” And why does Cal Thomas not question the relationship John McCain has with John Hagee, who called the Catholic Church “the great whore”? Is McCain responsible for these disgusting diatribes? Guess not, only Obama is going to be held to such a standard. Guess if you can’t beat his charisma, if you can’t beat him on the issues, if you can’t find enough personal dirt, attack those around him and make him guilty by association. Congratulations, America, you have now hit an all-time low. Cal Thomas is leading the lynch mob.