Newspaper Page Text
Chattooga County Survey Results ©)
And Comments Bring Surprises ®
from second front
better equipped hospital. As for the health department,
they have many fine programs. The nurses are nice and
have a JOOd knowledfe of nursing, but the clerks in the
main o ico;.are sometimes rude — both in person and on
the.Phong. They rated the category a 5.
OK if all you need is a Band-Aid.” They rated the
category a 2,
""We would like to see more doctors locate in this coun
ty.” They gave a 4 to the category.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Law enforcement received the fifth highest score out
of 16 categories. Sixty-eight persons responded to the
survey category, giving the various departments a 6.91
average.,
Here are some comments:
“ansxsl'ering what they work with, they do an ade
qua‘tevrob. " The person gave the category a 7.
. '"We think the Chattooga County sheriff 's office is do
ing an excellent job.” Law enforcement got a 10 from the
person.
‘“The sheriff's department has a sound record of ar
rests and convictions during the past few years. In all our
dealing with the sheriff’s department, everyone has been
courteous and helpful.” They gave the category a 8.
*“The sheriff’s office needs to answer calls faster, have
the ones answering the phones to be friendlier, and have
some training on spotting broke-down vehicles in need of
help.” They rated the cate%:)ry a3d.
_ “Onme mght my mother thought someone was breaking
in on her. She was in holy terror. I called the sheriff’s
department, gave them specific directions. The man said
he'd get someone right over. That's been over a month.
They haven't showed up yet.” The person rated the
catefi?ry a 3.
‘“Law enforcement shows favoritism in some areas.”
The g‘erson rated the category an 8.
. ““The sheriff's department is too slow about respon
dmg to calls for help.” The Cg:irson rated the category a 3.
‘lt is my opinion the ttml)fa County Sheriff and
his deputies are doing a wonderful job protecting the
citizens of this county. I just can’t understand why they
are the lowest lEmid county organization.”
. ““We have the best law enforcement around.”” A 10 was
given.
FIRE PROTECTION
Fire protection in Chattooga County rated a 7 from the
64 flarsons responding to the category.
ere are some comments:
‘“My neiihbor’s house burned and they saved the
chimney.”’ The person rated the catefiory al.
‘lt exists but doesn’t save many houses.” The person
gave a 2 to the category.
“Fire protection — cannot rate, due to lack of ex
perience and information.”
_ ““The fire department needs more trucks.” A 7 was
given.
““Fire protection — I have no personal involvement.”
“‘Fire protection good in Trion area.”’ The person rated
the category a 10.
‘““Fire protection — So, so.” The person rated the
cate%?ry ab. ,
““The fire department is all right, but it could use more
trucks.” They rated the category an 8.
- NEWSPAPER
The Summerville News rated the second highest out of
the 16 categories in the survey. Sixty-nine persons respon
ding to the survey gave TH}E’ NEWS a 7.69 average. No
employee of the newspaper, or Espy Publishing, or any
family member of an employee participated in the suryey.
Here are some comments:
“The newspaper is doing a good job of reporting local
news.”’ The person gave a 7 to the category.
“We thinfie The Summerville News is a very good week
ly paper.” They gave an 8 to the category.
“\R’Z also have the best local newspaper around. It’s
not big like Rome or Chattanooga, but we are proud of it
just lifie it is.”” The person gave a 10 to the category.
““Newspaper — Does a good job giving community ser
vices, but should be modern enough to drop all these com
munity gossip sections and start including some news
outside of Chattooga County.” They gave a 5 rating.
“The Summerville News does a fair job of reporting
the news, but the grammar, at times, is appalling. It is
disappointing, too, that the pa?er is published only once a
wee{); three times weekly would provide more up-to-date
coverage.”’ They gave the paper a 6.
“The newspaper prints only what they want.” They
gave the {)aper a 6. ; : :
“Local newspaper shows favoritism in their news
stories. The poor, or undesirables get more coverafie in the
crime area tlgan the well-to-do folks.”” They gave the paper
ab.
“Local Newspaper — Loves murders and dead deer,
The ‘“‘society’’ chit-chat is so amusing that it is pathetic.”
They gave a 5 to the local paper.
LOCAL RADIO
Chattooga County’s WGTA-Radio rated 12th in the 16
categories with a 4.55 average from 68 persons respon
ding to the category.
%lere are some comments:
“The news formed by the local radio station is com
pletely lacking in professionalism. On a typical newscast
of the local ragio station, we are told at least 12 times that
we are about to hear the news or have just heard it. This is
in addition to listeninf to worn out, scratched tapes of
music that have no value other than-time consumption.”
The person gave the station al.
“Egcal Radio — A joke.” The person rated it a zero.
“Radio announces crime stories too many times.”’ The
person gave a 2 rating. ; | ;
“We are glad that WGTA doesn’t advertise beer like
so many stations do. We like that ‘“Wakee-Wakee Rise
and Shine’’ announcer. The person fixve the station an 8.
““The local radio is good for one thing — waking people
up. But a rooster could do that. The format and personnel
are in the dark ages. A new person listening would think
they had slipped into a time wars) and were back in the
'3os. I'm sure there’s many people in Chattooga County
who need preaching services seven-days a week, but
there’s also those who would like to have some decent
entertainment.”” The person rated the station a 2.
“The local radio station attempts, though unsuc
cessfully, to be all things to al(l)J)eople — an impossible
task. As a result, it is a hodge-?l ge, consisting mainly of
commercials and sermons. In the afternoons there is not a
thing on news or weather until 5.”” The person rated the
station a 1. :
‘““‘Radio coverage of crime focuses on some f)eople more
than others: It is just as bad for the middle class to com
mit a crime as for the down and outs.” The person rated
the station a 5.
CABLETV
Local cable television rated a 4.34 from 55 persons
responding to the category.
g{ere are some comments made from readers:
“The local cable TV company needs to add additional
channels to their regular cable.”” The person rated the
cable system a 2.
“Local Cable TV — Better than Chattooga County
deserves but could improve.” The person rated the cable a
B
“Reception is usually less than good, and the cable is
out of order rather frequently, but service is usually n{aro
mpt. I resent the fact that we are unable to get o {hn
handful of the cable stations available in other areas.’’ The
person rated the cable a 5.
“If your cable goes off at 8 p.m., you better bet it’ll be
the next day sometimes before it's repaired.” The person
rated cable a 3.
“We love cable TV and HBO. But we would love to get
showtime and others that are offered to Menlo."” The per
son rated cable a 7.
“The cable needs to clean up their act.” The person
o e, c%!l)le'la'vzpeop. le are ch le for 12 chan
“The cable e are charging people for 12 -
nels. Most of the time at least on%lcfiunnel is completely
off the air.”” The person rated the cable a 5.
CITY/COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Government rated 4.30 to be the third lowest category
out of 16. Sixty-eight persons responded to the category.
Here are some comments:
“County government — Taxes are too high for services
rendered. sne man shouldn’t have complete gower; we
need a council. Other governments improve schools, buy
band uniforms, encoura%e development of industries and
try to improve in general.”” The person rated government
ad.
‘‘A mediocre rating for a mediocre county
government.”’ The person rated government a 5.
“As in all small towns, the governments are for the bis
people. The little ones don’t count. That’s not right an
this town is one of the worst for that.” A 3 rating was
given.
“The county government needs to reassess its values
on a lot of things — like property and school taxes, the
elderly, handicapped and ieople with no kids in school
either can’t afford the high taxes or don’t want to pay
taxes to help educate other people’s children.” The person
rated government a 5.
“Local officials don’t do enough long range glanning.
They s;fnd our tax money on Band-Aid type decisions.
It's foolish to pay 10 years interest with rates the way
they are for jails, schools, etc.. When money was more
plentiful, some should have been saved . .."” The person
rated the category a 5.
“QOur taxes are much too high for services received. I
think my city taxes are a bigger rip-off than county. I
have yet to see any return for my money but garbage col
lection.” They rated the category a 2.
“All rates of government need better management.
About all that is ever done is to raise taxes and raise
salaries.” They rate government a 2.
“Taxes are too high for the services we received. I
think we need to put a freeze on taxes.”” They rated a 1 to
government.
“Our elected officials should try to run things more ef
ficiently rather than calling for more taxes all the time.”
They rated a 2 to government.
“Anytime you need anything from the county you are
told there are no funds, but the county lawyer gets big
pay for nothinfi;ilt’s a shame he feels our law enforcement
1s not worth what he’s throwing to the ambulance service.
Maybe the federal government should force an increase
for them like they are for the new l!lml No financial state
ment is published every year as the law states it should
be.” They rated the government a zero.
OVERALL QUALITY OF
LIFE IN CHATTOOGA
The county’s overall quality of life was rated a 6 by 68
persons responding to the category.
Here are some of the comments about the category:
“Chattooga County is a good place to live and
everyone working toge&her gan mfke it a better place.”
“We know there are mang'ogood people in our county.
It is the ones that are got g‘ tl*lat make the news.”
“It saddens me to rate my county for what it is. I was
born, raised, married and am raising children here. Fami
ly, friends and familiarity is what keeps me here. No d)obs
for our children when they are read{ and frankl{' I don'’t
think it’s going to improve much. I feel strongly that I
should relocate, but as a one-parent household I haven't
had the nerve to do it.”
* * *
“The overall quality of life here is about the same as in
other areas because of few jobs for those who really want
to work.”
* * *
“The overall quality of life here, in mg' opinion, is poor,
and I believe the main reason is a lack of pride in the com
munity. People here are proud, but it is a personal, almost;
defiant ({)ride. The{ are not, for the most part, willing to
Eut aside their differences in order to work together for a
etter place to live. The atmosghere here is almost hostile.
Malicious gossip is ramgant. ven church congregations
fight and split frequently, which accounts for the large
number of small churches here. This lack of community
pride is also evidenced by the abundance of litter
everywhere you look. Volunteer agencies are few. The Big
Brother/Big Sister program is commendable, but it re
mains to be seen whether there will be enough volunteers
to carry it off. In Chattooga County the motto for most
people seems to be ‘‘every man for himself,” and until
that attitude changes, no matter how many stores or
businesses open here, no matter how hard the radio sta
tions and newspapers and government agencies and
utilities attempt to improve, the quality of life here will re
main poor because it takes a cooperative community ef
fort to make things wo:k.” L
“ChattooFa County is a scenic, beautiful, quiet place
to live. It offers nothing else. Those who stay here do
because of family ties or because the county is so im
poverished you can’t sell your property. The two major in
dustries work to keep others out. Controlling families try
to keep everybody out or in their place. Nobody seems to
care or have given up x:bout*impr:)ving things."”
“In my opinion, the overall quality of life in Chattooga
County is good.”
* * *
“We realize that there are a lot of people on welfare
and they are not trying to find Ijobs and mafie better lives
for themselves. This is really sad because they are
teaching their children a walfi of life. They are teachin
them that the government wi keetp them up. That is 'reafi
ly sad. Some people who receive food stamps buy foods
that working people do not. We working people Kave to
watch every penny we spend.”’
UNSOLICITED COMMENTS
“None of our banks offer checking accounts with in
terest.” ’
* * *®
‘I appreciate you f(:r doi:xg th‘i's survey.”
“Return jaws equip.rlnent'to rescue squad.”
“Bitterly opposed to prison coming to this county as it
will drop above ratings even lower. Ansfi( Tom Murphy why
Breman does not get t}:e pr?on.';
“Seems like all of our elected officials know what the
people of the county want without letting us voice our Ofii
nion in a vote. Why don’t you run a survey on whether the
people want a state prison or not? It might turn out like
the sales tax issue.”
o mTe
“‘Banks in other counties pay interest rates on regular
savings accounts with a S3OO minimum. Ours penalizes us
with a balance of less than SSOO and we get no interest.”
Berryton Bike-A-Thon Is Planned Saturday
The Berryton Bike and
Walk-a-Thon will take glace at
Berryton Baptist Church
Saturday at noon. “We know
the people of Berryton will be
there in a great number to
help those special kids,” said
Mrs. Helton.
The Walkers will leave the
church at 12 noon and the
bikers will follow, leaving at 1
g.m. The route will end at
ames H., “Sloppy” Floyd
State Park with a picnic K)r
the participants. A S2O prize
will be given to the partici
pant who collects the most
money for the Cystic Fibrosis
Foundation. Mrs. Helton also
stated that adult supervision
would be provided. l{’:in date
will be April 23.
An assorted ‘froup of
children all ages and sizes and
an equally diverse grouY of
adults are starting to look
tired.
Riding their bikes and
walking, they approach the
check-point one more time.
Some stop for a drink of
water, others just keep on go
in?. A groug of enthusiastic
volunteers cheer as each one
completes the lap. The scene
— a Cystic Fibrosis Bike and
Walk-a-Thon. Cystic fibrosis
is a heredita lung and
digestive disor?:er which at
tacks children — robbing
them of breath and life.
In towns and cities across
Georgia, including Berryton,
volunteers will be conducting
bike-a-thons to raise funds for
the fight against cystic
fibrosis.
Chairman of the Berryton
Cystic Fibrosis Bike and
Walk-a-Thon is Mrs. Jayne
Helton.
‘‘ln Georgia we have
dedicated volunteers, renown
ed scientists and researchers,
and two fine treatment
centers,” said Mrs. Helton.
“What we don’t have is
enough money. That is why
s
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132 SOUTH HOURS: MON. THRU FR1.—7:30-6 PHONE 857-2456
COMMERCE STREET JERRY MORGAN
SAT.—I7:3O-5:30 '
SUMMERVILLe, GA. MANAGER
the Georl‘gia Chl{)ter. Cystic
Fibrosis Foundation is appeal
ing for sun?ort to expand
research and care programs
through this fund-raising ef
fort,” the Berryton Bike and
Walk-a-Thon. .
“We know more today
than we ever have before, and
Georgia has been a pace setter
in providing the best possible
care for our children,” said
Mrs. Helton. “Every dollar
raised in the Berryton Bike
and Walk-a-Thon means bet
IN CONCERT
The “Fireweed’ Band
AND
Sonny Reece
With Outlaw South
Sunday, April 17 — 2:00 p.m.
At Downtown Cinema — Summerville
The Summerville News, Thurs., April 14, 1983 . .
ter health and a brighter
future for youngsters here and
Completes Unit Training
Pvt. David M. Bohannon
Jr., son of Mary and Jay
Shore of 36 Ridge St., Trion,
has completed one station
unit training (OSUT) at the
U.S. Army Infantry School,
Fort Benning.
OSUT is a 12-week period
which combines basic combat
across the country suffering
with cystic fibrosis.”” .
tnininfi and advanced "In
dividual training,
Soldiers were ut:fel:t to
perform any of the duties in a
rifle or mortar squad.
He is a 1982 Frnduata of
Trion High School.
9-B