Are we supposed to be sorry for Mr. Pendleton and his tattoo parlor as he blubbers about the restrictions in Peachtree City to the Atlanta Journal Constitution? He should have known at the start that a tattoo parlor was not a good fit for Peachtree City. I am not surprised that he would immediately cry “discrimination.” “I didn’t know I was the source of everything that’s wrong in the city! WAH! WAH! WAH!” “I didn’t know I would make so many people upset! WAH! WAH! WAH!” When there were objections voiced to the tattoo parlor coming to town, he stated he was here to stay, and we better get used to it. Well, Mr. Pendleton, Peachtree City and its residents still have some standards, so I guess you will just have to suck it up and get used to it. You have your American Dream and I have mine. Mine and many other residents had/have the dream to live in the community we know Peachtree City to be, one that does not necessarily include tattoo parlors. Perhaps you should have spent more time studying the demographics of the area before imposing your dream on ours. I am sure there must be many areas that would welcome your enterprise — perhaps your home town of Villa Rica? — that would not have the restrictions imposed on them that you consider so unfair. Peachtree City is the place it is because of those restrictive regulations you mention. As a resident, I must live by those restrictions. Why should you as a business owner not be held to the same standards?

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I would encourage parents of WHS students to get a copy of The Wildcat Observer, March 2008 edition. While the article on page 11 entitled, “Comfortable and Classy, Skintight and Trashy,” was on target discussing the various types of clothing girls wear at high school, the picture that accompanied the article was totally inappropriate. As a parent, I am surprised that the soft-porn picture was used, but I was not surprised it was printed because of the school’s “out of the box” mentality. I would like to know if this photograph was approved by the newspaper sponsor or administration before the newspaper was published. Though many students have been exposed to photographs/videos which are worse in nature, I don’t feel it is right that our schools condone this as acceptable journalism on the high school level.

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I have had enough of the CRCTs. Each and every year our children bring home notes for weeks before the CRCTs advising us that they are coming. Middle school teachers are sending reminders from EACH teacher that the CRCTs are coming, countless emails to tell our children to get a good night’s sleep, good breakfast, arrive on time (as a parent, I am offended that you think you need to tell me this). Elementary schools are coordinating snacks for each of the tests based on what food stimulates what subject. As a parent, I have worried for three weeks on my three children’s performances. I’ve lost countless nights of sleep. One child came home so stressed the night before she was vomiting from stress. I’ve had enough! If you were doing your job and educating my child, the CRCT would be a non-event. However, for the past two months, I have sat with my three children each night at the computer and done practice tests, over and over again. If you teach the material, my child would test just fine. When you teach them how to test, they stress and lose sight of the forest through the trees. Stop! Do your jobs and teach. The test will fall in place.

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I would like to comment on the Cleveland administration negative comments. I have worked at Cleveland for two years (and begged to get hired there) and have NEVER witnessed or heard administration abuse or belittle any coworker or staff member, let alone in the halls, cafeteria or front office where children could hear. I know our staff members and not one would allow anyone (even administration) to present negativity around our children. We care for our children and surround them with a very positive atmosphere. Walk our halls or eat in our lunch room; you will see nothing but happiness. Cleveland’s administration is great. As for the “fruit basket,” our staff at Cleveland are more than qualified to move around or rotate positions or grade levels. The staff are educated in all elementary levels to teach. Our first and most important teachings to children is “life changes and also must you.” Change is difficult for all involved but administration must enforce change with the times for reasons staff members may not know. For the 600 parents who read this column, you should be aware your children are in great hands, and if there were a miscommunication between departments, it is NOT handled in front of children or parents.

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The behavior at Cleveland Elementary, as described in last week’s column, is not new. There are three important points for the writer to understand: 1. Mistreating teachers. As described on many anti-bullying websites, every year a teacher or two is targeted to bully and to discredit, confuse, intimidate, isolate, and eventually force the victim out. Treatment of the target includes assaults on their dignity, integrity, credibility and professional competence, public criticism to undermine and humiliate, and supervision for the purpose of intimidation or retaliation. The victimized person is portrayed as being at fault. When the employees leaves, they are not hired at any other Fayette County school. 2. You should be concerned about what happens behind closed doors, for this is where the plotting and planning takes place. Students report hearing, “If we do such and such, maybe we can force her out.” 3. Teachers will not transfer from Cleveland because they need the principal’s approval to do so.

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There seems to be much conversation about “out-of-county” students lately. And yes, some are illegally here. But there is a loophole that allows a non-Fayette county car tag to drop off and pick up students. And I’m not talking about teacher’s kids. It’s called F.I.T., Families In Transition. A program intended for homeless families, but now being abused by “homeless families” driving new, expensive SUVs. Just claim you are homeless, and pick your school! Read up on: McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. You’ll be surprised at what claiming homelessness can get you in regards to education: Choice of schools, food program, aftercare, even transportation. But I guess you won’t be needing that since you’re probably driving a brand new SUV.

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I see Tyrone Councilwoman Grace Caldwell disagreed with her hand-selected town manager who wanted to provide a benefit to the taxpayers by resurfacing several streets. Grace and her tagalong Gloria Furr blocked their funding approval. One can only conclude that these two “servants of the taxpayers” must have something else they want to do with the money.

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Less than four months in office newly elected officials went back on their promise to correct or repeal Tyrone’s bad zoning ordinance. At the April 17 meeting, council considered a proposal to amend the zoning ordinance which would have corrected some of the sins of Barry Amos and the old council. Instead they voted unanimously to keep the ordinance in place. At the Election Forum held in October 2007, over 100 residents heard each candidate pledge to do something about the ordinance, and their promises were published in the Oct. 20 Edition of The Citizen newspaper, along with their pictures on the front page. Tracy Young said he would repeal the ordinance and would ask businesses what they want. Yet last Thursday, Young made the motion to deny any ordinance changes, stating, “I just want to be fair.” Fair to whom? No one at the hearing opposed the change, but several people over the process did speak in favor of the amendment. Nor did Mr. Young ever ask any businesses what they wanted. Mayoral candidate Don Rehwaldt pledged to “review the ordinances,” but he never did, recently stating to the applicant that, “I don’t have a dog in this fight.” In other words, saying that he doesn’t care about his pledge or the citizens’ concerns. Candidate Gordon Shenkle, who this year became planning commission chairman, promised at the forum “to seriously examine the ordinance.” Yet when the amendment came before him, he voted against it, stating that he “didn’t want to change the ordinance.” Candidate Eric Dial stated publicly at the forum that “the ordinance might be an illegal inverse condemnation” to which he objects, adding that the ordinance be revisited prior to any decision. Yet when it came time to be counted, Dial avoided his campaign promise by withdrawing from the vote. Incumbent councilwomen Grace Caldwell and Gloria Furr, who during their tenure had met with businesses owners numerous times in 2007, and pretended to all that they wanted to correct the ordinance, voted NO along with all the other dishonorable council members. It must also be pointed out that both Rehwaldt and Young signed the citizens’ petition, the purpose of which was to “protect property rights and eliminate the destructive zoning ordinance.” Is there no limit to what a candidate will do or say just to get elected? What a humiliating disgrace all of these so-called representatives of the people are to themselves and to the citizens. They have let down all of the people who worked so hard to get them elected. They have raped the people’s trust. Lee, Smola, Letourneau, Blackstone, Amos — the names have changed, but the shameful behavior remains the same. When all these scoundrels are long gone, the citizens will still be picking up the tabs on lawsuits.

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Well, Fayetteville, you have come a long way. At one time you never had to worry about anyone stealing anything from you since most of us knew everyone in a town that was a great place to live. Now it’s a different story. We have a mix of people from everywhere, even people who relocated due to a storm called Katrina, so the mix isn’t what it use to be. The first instance of stealing was when someone came in the yard and stole a tool box with turkey hunting gear. The second time a thief visited, someone took a $25 chest of drawers from my driveway. No one gave it to me; I paid for it so that is a loss to me. Today some people have no morals, no thoughts for anyone except for self. Enjoy the chest, and know that God takes care of people like you, maybe not today, but some time in the future someone will steal from you, and God will quietly remind you that you stole from someone else and it has come home to you.

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On Sunday, April 13 around 4:30 p.m. outside of Ted’s Montana Grill, I was 40 minutes early for a dinner appointment. I decided to walk across the way and window-shop. As I crossed, I twisted my ankle. Down I went. Now bear in mind it has probably been 50 years since I fell and skinned my knee, but this time I could not jump up immediately. I had to sit a minute because it did hurt. All of a sudden a lady backing from a parking space got out of her car and came to me and asked if she could help. As I was thanking her I looked up and a young girl in her late teens or early twenties crossed from the patio at Starbucks and also offered assistance. I was so very thankful as I found I could not get up on my own. They both helped me to my feet and made sure I made my way back to a bench in front of the restaurant. A little shaken up, I did not give my name, but more embarrassing, did not ask the names of these strangers who came to my aid. I would like to do that now. With all that we are facing in this world today, I so appreciate you taking your valuable time to come to my aid. I will never forget your kindness.

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Representative Lynn Westmoreland says that he is proud that he has the most conservative voting record in Congress. That’s sort of like the football player who brags that he has the worst case of jock itch on the team. Both would be better served by not calling their problem to the attention of other folks.

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To the older man driving the shiny red Corvette on Ga. Highway 85 South April 8: I’ve seen dogs run faster. Move your mid-life crisis over to the far right lane if you want to drive lower than posted speeds. You an accident waiting to happen.

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Somebody has to say this and it might as well be me: There is an influx of illegals in PTC and, in my opinion, it is due to the fact that golf carts provide an optimal means of transportation for them. Unlike cars, golf carts only have to be registered with the town and no insurance is required for the huddled masses yearning to breathe free.

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If you don’t think immigration is a problem, ask a Native American.

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It’s human nature to blame our mistakes and bad decisions on someone else. But in the final analysis, we usually get what we deserve. Last week some in Congress were blaming the oil company execs for the high cost of fuel. Some folks were blaming the president and our legislators for inaction over the past 20-plus years. They say failure to provide an abundant supply of American oil has made us dependent on the rest of the world and weakened us internationally. But if we don’t start pressuring our politicians to develop our own oil supplies in Anwar, the Dakotas and the Gulf, things won’t change. Remember who’s to blame if you’re still paying excessive gas prices 10 years from now.

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I keep hearing the statement that the presidency is no job for an old man. Are we all supposed to be so stupid as to be brainwashed into believing something false if it is repeated often enough? The president need not be an Olympic athlete. He needs to have knowledge and good judgment which only comes with age and experience.

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I just returned from a 10-day vacation in Hawaii where I have gone every year for the past 35 years. I have always been prepared to pay double or triple for commodities such as food and gasoline when I go there. This year it was different. The prices were pretty much the same as right here in Fayette County. In Hawaii, gasoline is a little higher than here, from 3.39 to as much as 3.50 per gallon. Groceries in general are about the same but fresh fruit and vegetables are much cheaper in Hawaii. It’s pretty obvious that we are getting ripped off big time here in Georgia because the cost to the suppliers here could not possibly be as high as they are in a vacation mecca like Hawaii.

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Statistics show that more people in America die from lack of health insurance than from homicides. Universal health care for everyone would work fine in this country, as it does in some others, if the rich and powerful in the health care industry did not interfere to make it so inefficient it scares people as it does in Canada.

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People should be listening to Dr. David Manning, a black preacher, pastor of a church in Harlem, New York. He warns white people that if they support and elect Barack Obama he will trash white America. I know Dr. Manning is right. Anyone who doesn’t know this already is out of touch with reality.

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I do not like what Barack Obama stands for and I shudder to think what will happen to this country if he becomes president. At the same time I do not hide from facts, and his statement a few days ago that the working class voters are bitter and unhappy was absolutely true. Why did it cause such a protest? It’s obvious that the average American is no longer capable of understanding what is happening to their country.