About Lake Oconee news. (Greensboro, GA) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 29, 2017)
Friday, September 29, 2017 Lake Oconee News Page A5 Letters to the Editor Letters must be signed and include your full address and phone number for verification; only name and town are printed. Submissions may be edited for content and length. The deadline is 1 p.m. Monday. Send to news@lakeoconeenews.us Tink and the car Want to trade places It is a very dangerous thing to define a person by their present situation. I recall the movie “Trading Places” with Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd. In the movie, there was a bet between two wealthy billionaire brothers. One millionaire believed that a person’s environ ment shaped his charac ter and the other believed heredity determined how a person’s life would turn out. One brother believed that if you put any person in a dire situation for a long period, that person would succumb to hopelessness and despair. The brothers reversed the roles of two men. They wanted to see if a wealthy person who became poor would become the beggar or the thief. The exact opposite would happen if the poor man became rich. In order to prove their theory, they waged a $1 bet. They took a beggar (street hustler) and put him in a position of wealth, and the rich guy was made poor. They traded places. However funny the 1983 movie was, it provided food for thought. My focus is on real poverty in America. Today there are 46.5 million people in this rich country that are living in scarcity. That does not include the millions of homeless people. In 1967, President Johnson declared war on poverty after extreme pressure from Dr. King and the Civil Rights movement. Since that time, ac cording to some statistics, there has been a decrease of only 4 percent, and this is a conservative estimate. Meanwhile, other informa tion shows an increase of 11 percent in poverty. However, other data provided reveal that more people of color are in poverty than whites. Union Point at a crossroads Union Point is at cross roads, its very own special crossroads. The city could go up or it could go down. This year’s elections will give voters an oppor tunity to choose all new councilmembers and a new mayor. Now - on the surface this appears to be a good thing. However, new faces, new names and different bodies sitting in political offices don’t always guarantee fresh ideas, real change or actual transformation. Union Point needs elected officials who have vision, plans, resources and Segars Continued from A4 two show ships, three tan neries, which were within one quarter mile of the village [and] schools and churches.” “There were many years of wild and dangerous goings on,” says Stanford. “But the ladies of the local Methodist Church kept up a vigilant battle against the sinful ways of the times. Those ladies eventual ly won out and the town known as Stanfordville became a safe and respect able place to live and raise a family. Also, a large number of the rowdy men who gave the little frontier town it’s bad reputation were not even residents ofthe village; many came from areas of what is now Jones, Jasper and Baldwin counties. commitment - people who can imagine newer, bigger; different and better; indi viduals who have actual concrete plans to deliver. The city of Union Point is in need of leadership who knows how to develop re lationships with people, or ganizations and businesses that can benefit all the resi dents of the city. Before the election, there should be a public “Meet the Candidates” forum where each candidate has to share their platform and their plans and then answer questions by those they aspire to serve. Hopefully - maybe, the “Most everyone today knows each other and are good neighbors,” Stanford continues. “Not much is left of the old town and those who know the area can show you several locations of the old original roads. I remember several old rundown buildings that were a part of the original town; they were later moved or torn down to make room for more modern and usable struc tures.” There is not much left of the original town of Stan fordville, one of the earliest communities in Georgia’s Lake Country. Several original roads have now turned into woods. “There is one building still standing today and used by the state’s depart ment of natural resources,” adds Stanford. “It stands on Checking two newspapers and the one radio station serving Greene County will cover such an event. Maybe one of them will even sponsor such an event. You know, when I drive through Union Point, I see such potential. I see the possibilities of what could be: the old Union Point gymnasium, the Greene County Pre - school building and sur rounding area - and the WGRC campus. In spite of the hopeless ness, the vacant and/or dilapidated buildings and the lingering bodies with very little productive ac- Station Road and is about 1\2 mile from the cross roads. DNR uses the building for their managed wildlife hunts.” Today there are no road signs that identify Stanfordville and current residents don’t necessar ily remember the town’s nickname of Devil’s Half Acre. Many of us, however, were taught about the town years ago by Mrs. Kath erine Walters, a Georgia history teacher at Putnam County High School. We still remember that Devil’s Half Acre was a wild place. While the history of towns and villages here in Lake Country aren’t a part of school curriculum, their compelling stories still survive in archival newspaper files and in the memories of local residents. It remains important that these forgotten stories be uncovered and recorded. Get breaking news www.lakeoconeenews.us (Ja~ lucth. tAa JAMES & DOC, PROPRIETORS OVER 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE NEW LOCATION: 779 N. MAIN ST, MADISON, Between the Golden Pantry & Tequilas LIMIT ONE COUPON PER PERSON CAN NOT BE COM BINED WITH ANY WASH OTHER OFFER AUTO' PERSON CAN NOT BE COM BINED WITH ANY DETAIL OTHER OFFER PICK UP & DELIVERY SERVICE 404-552-7637 MON-SATl 8 AM-6PM SERVICE! Black poverty is at 27.4 percent, Hispanic 26.6 and whites at 9-9 percent.. The African-American unemployment rate in Gerogia is 10.1 percent, whites 3.5 percent. It’s not because one race is superior in educational skills or more capable of work. There are several things that effect people of color, which holds them in a poverty-stricken state. They are paid 26 percent less than their white counter parts. Most people refuse to admit that it might be a race issue. What are your thoughts? Want to trade places with anyone? Bernice Dennis tivities to engage in - I see potential. A potential that can be realized if those selected and entrusted to lead and legislate have the ability, competence, commitment and will to produce results. If you drive thru Union Point, you can see a quaint little bedroom city and community teetering on a brink, of sorts. A city that could go up or that could go down. But, wait - there is a third option. Union Point could simply just remain the same. Sincerely, Timothy Aaron - Styles And perhaps it’s time to place a historical marker at Stanfordville. My husband is a simple man. This comes as a surprise to folks because of the high-profile family from which he comes and the job which he does. If it weren’t for me, he’d never spend a dime on himself. Except, of course, for all the soap and toothpaste he uses. I buy clothes he claims he doesn’t need and after a wintery outside funeral, I promptly came home and ordered him a dressy overcoat. Coming from California, he probably hasn’t had one in 40 years, if ever. For three years now, he has flung around the Rondarosa and town in a Chevrolet truck that is so bare that it has manual locks and windows that use a handle to roll them up and down. It does have an FM radio and air con ditioning. It is white and so plain that it looks like a service truck with the water department which gets him teased a bit. We have a “Sunday” car and a 12-year-old one of mine that we use for the airport. That is, until recently when Tink said, “I’m driving my truck to the airport. I don’t trust that car anymore to get me there and back.” We had been talking for a bit about getting rid of the old car and replacing it with an SUV. This is a major undertaking for me. Whenever I’m buying something new, I have to research extensively in order to make the best decision. In an unusual turn of events, Tink and I decided separately on the same SUV. Normally, one Ronda Rich Dixie Divas of us has to talk the other into our way of thinking. After a month of research, we arrived at the dealership to look at the one we planned to buy. It was a small SUV but then Tink decided he wanted to drive the bigger one. I knew I was sunk when he got behind the wheel. I wanted the smaller one because I thought it’d be easier to drive. I sat in the back seat as Tink and the salesman talked. Of course, the salesman was talking us up to the bigger SUV. I knew, actually, it was a better deal because it was several months old with a few thousand miles on it. We got back to the dealership. “Okay,” I said. “Give us the best price for the brand new, small one and the best price for the used, bigger one.” “Let’s go in my office,” he said. At that point, Tink turned back toward the lot, saying, “I’ll just wait out here.” Tink comes from a family where it’s gauche to discuss money. The salesman continued to insist and Tink continued SEE RICH » A7 CHANGE IS NEEDED IN MADISON When the governing body, Madison City Council, loses the trust and confidence of a large part of its voting constituency.. ..then it is time for a change. This is where I find myself in Madison’s upcoming Elections for Mayor and three Council seats. Not only do I find current incumbents totally devoid of vision for the growth of Madison, but for some odd and peculiar reason, they are completely in the camp of a Planning Dept, that seems to be pushing a narrow view of development in the Historic District. This Planning Department truly believes that density development is perfectly appropriate amidst some of the most beautiful and historic homes in Madison. Why Mayor and Council have bought, are buying, and probably will do so in the future, the fuzzy narrow thinking of Planning in development and zoning matters is a question that needs to be asked of them.. .before the November election. Their absolute reliance on the narrow, self interested views of a Planning Department that truly believes they make policy, not our elected officials, is disturbing.. .to say the least. When the voters no longer have the confidence that their elected official are listening to the will of the people as well as their respected advisory bodies.. .it is time for a fresh look at how we want and expect Madison to be run. Simply for the Mayor to say he has been around for thirty years is not enough. His deciding vote on a recent petition by a developer which allowed his property to be zoned R4 from R2 set a bad precedent that could result in unfavorable unintended consequences in the very near future. One would think that after thirty years in governance, he surely must have considered the ramifications of his deciding vote... but no, he did not. For some odd reason, despite his thirty year of service to the town, he seems to have a detachment to the value of the Historic District. The fact that the Historic District generates a lot of money for Madison seems to escape his and Planning’s thinking. Money that is then used for the greater social good of Madison. Below is an email that I have sent Council in hopes of them seeing a valid, opposing view. In a future piece, I intend to explain what the current zoning debate is about, I will explain the acro nyms on the yard signs all over town and what they mean, and I will connect some dots that I see on how this debate really affects Madison. Below is an email I sent to Council prior to the cancelled September meeting. “I shall begin this last email from me before your meeting on Monday with a Wikipe dia quote on Madison in an early 19th century periodical. It describes Madison as “the most cultured and aristocratic town on the Stagecoach route from Charleston to New Orleans. In point of intelligence, refinement, and hospitality, this town acknowledges no superior.” This was written about Madison in 1849. This really could be said of the Madison today. For those who were born in this town, who claim generational ances tors here,.... you have always known this and for us “newcomers” who have adopted this town as our own, we have come to share your sentiment. I am, admittedly biased, in my staunch and vehement opposition to modern infill cottage development in historic Madison. Having grown up in an old home in a historic district and all the homes I have lived in as an adult have been old, historic homes, I have an aesthetic appreciation for the quality of life that surrounds me. And this is what is being threatened by those who truly do not understand the aesthetics of a historic district. They misrepresent and conflate their self serving motives with what they say is good for Madison or what Mad ison needs totally disregarding the historic homes and neighborhoods that they want to impose their vision on. What Brad Good is proposing is degradation to Madison’s historical integrity and should be stopped pure and simple. This pro growth develop ment agenda that Council opened up a door to by approving Everett Royal’s petitions on his North Avenue property is a debate that needs to occur sooner than later, otherwise Council will continually have this fight with the voting public. The development mecha nisms that would result in density housing are many and really need to be debated as to their appropriateness in the historic district. Planning should have dissuaded Brad Good a long, long time ago without impairing his rights to due process, and informing him that there would be significant pushback for his infill, pocket cottage development but they did not, have not, and are not going to. Honorable Council members listen to the advice of HPC, P&Z, as well as the will of the people and say no to Brad Good’s request for a zoning change from R2 to R4.” Mael Bowman Paid for by Mael Bowman, a concerned voice of one
