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- Wednesday, May 22, 2013 Gainesville, Georgia
Archive By Section - Letters to the editor
Commissioners should have cut back on projects earlier
I'm wondering why it's taken our commissioners four years to realize the economy is bad. Why did they not start cutting back years ago? That's what I've had to do.
Perry’s movies are appreciated
I am an infrequent movie goer. Very few movies stimulate me to attend the movie theater. One exception is Tyler Perry.
Key library services could be lost if county closes branches
It is a great concern and sadness to me to learn of the possible closing of four of our library branches. I was serving on the Library Board when plans were being made to open the Blackshear Place Library. I remember the excitement we had in opening a new library in South Hall.
Americans need to learn truth about health law
Wednesday, I was in Atlanta and spoke with some of the people that were protesting outside of the Atlanta Federal Court of Appeals building. Their signs stated "Hands Off My Health Care."
Forgotten cemetery needs care, maintenance
On Camp Wahsega Road, about a mile before it ends at Camp Merrill, is a tiny cemetery called Shady Grove, a place that time has forgotten. It was attached to a small Methodist church that was razed about 80 years ago on land given to the Methodist Church by our several-times-great grandpa Jacob Saine in the mid-1800s.
Our leaders should be as selfless as our military
I had the distinct honor to watch PBS' Memorial Day presentations honoring our service members. One segment, an "Honor Flight" from Pensacola to Washington as veterans visited the various war memorials, was outstanding.
Find a better way to save money than closing libraries
As a retired professional librarian with 25 years of experience at public, school, college and university libraries in three states, I am appalled at the suggestion that four of the six public libraries in Hall County be closed to save money.
County spends too much on unnecessary personal services
With all the talk of budget talks vs. increasing tax rates, being a 64-year-old independent truck driver, I have some comments and questions.
Cuts will hurt economy more than a tax hike
The damage that the Hall County Board of Commissioners is about to do to this county will not only hurt the quality of life in this county, but will cause irreparable damage to our local economy. How in the world could anyone with a rational brain possibly think that eliminating 77 county jobs or so, eliminating public parks and libraries and cutting two ambulances will help local business?
Libraries could cut costs with a few changes
In dire economic times like now, something has to give in order bring budgets more in line with reality. As regards to the proposed closing of four library locations out of six in total, I would like to make the following remarks and suggestions.
Hall County’s anti-tax rhetoric is based on myths not facts
Yes, Chairman Tom Oliver has proposed raising the millage rate to make up for revenue losses due to property values dropping drastically in the last few years. The county commission and school board probably read all of the evaluations during the housing bubble as they cut that same millage rate year after year.
County tax increase already was decided before public meeting
Let me start off by saying that I would like to think the tax increase would not pass, but unfortunately, it's already too late. It's already passed.
Closing Ag Center, parks would have negative effect
I agree with Mr. Black's letter about the Chicopee Woods Ag Center. We were just there for JAKE's Day. It was wall to wall kids. All those families left there, bought gas and food elsewhere in the community.
Reality dictates more Hall budget cuts, not tax hikes
Hall County officials are correct to propose deep cuts to fiscal year 2012 budgets and no tax increase should be considered. Hall County is no longer a boom town and the local government and its employees need to recognize this. The days of elite public sector employees riding piggyback on the peon taxpayers and insulated from the contractions in the economy are over.
There are ways to boost income besides furloughs
In attending the North Hall budget meeting in Clermont, I came away with some good points that were made in the meeting and some views that were made in a state of emotion.
Articles by Section - Letters to the editor
Your Views: Push to raise Lanier’s level based on costs
In response to a concern about our push to increase the full pool of Lake Lanier to 1,073 feet: While we don't like to see public recreation areas and personal property compromised by high water levels, it is very instructive to see what the effects of 1,073 are on the surrounding lake areas.
Your Views: Administration continues to fuel an overall distrust of government
The Obama administration is at it again. According to President Barack Obama, he doesn't know half of what is going on in his administration, since he finds out things when he sees it on the news, like the IRS scandal. Then there was Benghazi, which the administration blamed on a movie instead of an organized terrorist organization. Then Hillary Clinton says "what difference does it make," like who cares?
Your Views: Campaign signs are out of place at veterans’ events
As Memorial Day approaches, I'm reminded of a disturbing trend I've noticed over the past several years. I've been serving in the U.S. Army and the Georgia Army National Guard for more than 17 years now, and the amount of support we receive from the community is very much appreciated.
Your Views: Parents have lost control of their kids, based on public behavior
Have you ever been in a department store or grocery store and felt like you were among a bunch of wild animals? I despise parents who are controlled by their children. Who is in control? Obviously, not the adults.
Your Views: Raising Lanier’s full pool 2 feet now seems an unworkable idea
For the last several years, the Lake Lanier Association and several advocates, have drafted plans of action to address issues regarding the lake's delicate balance, of its water quality and the constantly fluctuating levels, not to mention all the downstream demands made on this pristine North Georgia jewel.
Your Views: Sensible gun legislation will protect our rights and safety
State Sen. Steve Gooch has emphasized the need for more work on Second Amendment rights for Georgia citizens. He correctly states that, in 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the individuals right to keep and bear arms. If you wanted guns to be outlawed except for militia use or some version of that scenario, then your argument is lost.
Your Views: Hall, Gainesville need an effective transit system
The Hall County Family Connection Network is a collaboration of agencies and organizations that serve families and children in Hall County. In this capacity, we write to express our concern about the future of the public transportation system in Gainesville and Hall County.
Your Views: Administration won’t be honest about threats facing nation
It seems we are continually confronting a threat or threats: radical Islam, economic meltdown, Obama scare, war, etc. However, one of my greatest concerns is the lack of honesty in our leaders. Their response, unfortunately, is always an effort to mislead and cover up. If I recall correctly, this administration promised to be the most transparent in our history. It appears to me we have a trust deficit much larger than our fiscal one.
Your Views: Left-turn ban is not best answer to city’s traffic
As you can imagine with a business that employs more than 100 people on Green Street, and one that has operated successfully on the street since 1967, we oppose the banning of left turns on Green Street as the only solution to Gainesville's traffic problem. It is a easy, knee-jerk public action but will only marginally affective in reducing the affect of traffic through our city.
Your Views: Citizens need guns for protection from an oppressive government
It appears that Jim Scharnagel still doesn't understand the history of this country or what our Constitution and Bill of Rights are all about. In his recent letter, he left out possibly the most important reason for maintaining an armed citizenry, namely protection from an oppressive government.
Your Views: Evaluations don’t factor in art of teaching
Your article on the Teacher Keys evaluation system was accurate, but failed to discuss the critical issue; that is, is it possible to evaluate teaching using any evaluation tool regardless of its sophistication or intricacy? There are at least a few loud voices in the field of education, mine included, which reject the fundamental concept of teacher evaluation through an objective measurement device.
Your Views: Take time to thank teachers for their impact on our children
Our son's elementary school, Wauka Mountain Multiple Intelligences Academy, is honoring its teachers this week as part of Teacher Appreciation Week. Since this is his last year at the school, we began to reflect on all the wonderful teachers that have been a part of our lives these last six years.
Your Views: Power workers hustled to fix lines knocked down by storm
Saturday night, our power went out because a tree fell on a power line near our house. This happened shortly after 11 p.m. All night, we heard Jackson Electric workers cutting the tree and working in the pouring rain. At 6 a.m., our electricity came back on.
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