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Letters To The Editor
Preserve U.S. Constitution
Dear Editor:
It will be greeted with re}oicing and delight
among certain circles when I relate that this is
my last letter to this news*mper. Were I able
to provide better security for my loved ones,
this would not be necesm; but, it is the duty
of aman to protect his family first and his coun
try second, though I have tried to do both at
the same time.
With this final letter, dear editor, I wish first
of all to thank you for printin 97 percent of
my letters. Because of your ietters to the
Editor section, I was provided with the oppor
tum% to exercise my right of free speech more
broa ¥ Such public opinion formats are as
rays o fifilht in a darkenintg world.
Secondly, I wish to address the cowardly
rodents that, over the last several months have
paid their unwelcome “visits' (especially the
most recent) to my home. I deegly regret that
your ‘‘visits” were of such brevity as to
preclude any opportunity for me to espouse my
philosophy to J'ou on terrorists and punks. I feel
that the world would have benefited from such
a discussion, and I know I would have.
Thirdly, I wish to warn and exhort that
Satanic Order from which I am sure the afore
mentioned vermin came. Your worldly power
is for but a brief moment. It is an eternal law
that we reap what we sow, and better in this
life than the next; and, your secret conspiracies
may protect you from justice while in this
world, but they will not avail you before a
righteous God on the day of your judgment. So
ponder in your hearts that ‘... the
abominable, and murderers, and whore
mongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all
liars, shall have their part in the lake which
burneth with fire and brimstone — which is the
second death.” — Revelations 21:8.
Each of you will suffer this eternal second
death despite your brief worldly victories, and
if you could taste that second death for only
Strange Critical Of Payne, The News
Dear Editor:
The second in a series of articles concerning
the election of a five-member board of county
commissioner’s for Chattooga County jumps to
some hasty conclusions.
Mr. (Jon) Payne fears lower voter turnout
if the number of voter districts are lowered from
13 to five to correspond with the new county
commission districts.
He conveniently doesn't tell us why he feels
voter apathy will be the result. Nor does he give
any consideration to the possibility that new
commissioners may very well stir voter
interest.
The Summerville News should have been
more responsible and researched other counties
that have changed to a five-member board to
see if voter apathy has resulted. Instead you
CEA Wrong On School Bell Awards
‘Dear Editor: ©'//i7 1110 :
ricvLast week's' article concerning the Chat
tooga Education Association’s decision to
eliminate The Summerville News from com
peting in the GAE’s School Bell Award was
disturbing.
It apgears this decision was based on an ar
ticle by The News supporting tax credits which
the GAE and the CEA are opposed to, accor
dmfi' to Gail Beck, president of the CEA.
his organization certainly has the right to
make a choice as to whether ?l"he Summerville
News can compete in the awards, as should
parents also have a choice as to which school
their children can attend. Mrs. Beck thinks that
if parents have a choice that it would destroy
the public school system. It seems clear that
the Public school system has already destroyed
itself. The 1983 report, “A Nation at Risk,”
which suggested that ‘‘the educational founda
tions of our society are presently being eroded
by a rising tide of mediocrity that threatens our
very future as a nation and a people.” Our
state’s SAT scores rank 20th out of 22 states
in which the SAT is the dominant college ad
mission exam.
Mrs. Beck and her colleagues should not be
as concerned with The Summerville News-as
Looking For Relatives
Dear Editor:
I am lookinE for descendants of Mrs.
Catherine L. Webb. She lived in Summerville
for a number of gears until her death in 1935.
She is buried in Summerville Cemetery. In the
obituary her daughters were listed as Mrs.
W. A. Parker, Summerville, Mrs. Cordie
Bowers, Vonore, Tenn., Mrs. Della Moss (now
%cg%sed), and sons — E. N,, W. A. and O. L.
ebb. '
Other Editors
How Much Is Too Much?
It is popular to talk about cutting the
budgets of public agencies and local
governments, particularly in these dismal
economic times, when it is getting more
and more difficult for the taxpayers to
make ends meet.
Many politicians have been elected to
office riding the wave of taxpayer discon-.
tent and promising nothing more specific
than some vague promise to ‘“‘cut the fat.”
Once they are elected though, they
quickly learn there was not nearly as much
fat to be cut as they had led the voters to
believe during their campaigns.
Then they have to explain why they
have cut and cut and just can’t cut any
more. ;
. To promise to cut the fat implies that
the problems of financing government will
be solved by reducing the amount of
money being spent on unnecessary items,
thus freeing up funds for necessary ones.
. However, almost every budgetary item
was placed therein for a good and wor
a moment, you would try every way to escape
your Evil Association, and seek the ¥orgiveness
and ];rotection of a merciful God. ‘““Come now,
and let us reason together, saith the Lord:
though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as
white as snow; though they be red l{ke crimson,
the{ shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18.
astly, I wish to sgeak once more to the peo
ple of this count[vl'. and this nation, The time will
quickly come when the dust lies heavy on this
article, and my words forgotten; but, it is my
hope that some of you will remember and
preparesyourselves for the trying times ahead.
As the Synagogue of Satan infiltrates and con
trols every worldl{rinstitution. organization,
and association, Christianity will come under
greater attack and the time of the Mark of the
east will come to be. Althouih this time is
Biblically foretold, and viewed by some as in
evitable, it is still our duty to exert every ef
fort to stop it.
I am firmly convinced that freedom can be
gfeserved. I believe we can do this by in
ividually keepi:lf God’'s Law and by openly
standing u& for all of our constitutional rights,
which, bf' odly foresight were given to us so
as to help thwart the plan of Satan to create
the “New World Order,” which is the ‘“Beast”
of the Bible. If you let the Constitution die, an
gra _of unprecedented tyranny and evil will
egin.
In time, we shall all be held accountable for
our action, or inaction, in this matter. I would
that Americans would arouse themselves and
begin to look more closely at their leaders, their
teachers, and their preachers. Read the Bible
and the Constitution for yourself. Do not de
pend on the “‘self-annointed”’ to explain them
to you. If you will keep the commandments, and
never give up your right to keep and bear
firearms, I can still hope — we can still hope.
Phillip Bruce
Gore
heard the answer you wanted and printed it.
Mr. Payne then tells us of the enormous cost
of holding the election. He doesn’t tell us how
much we will save by closing eight voting
districts and The News doesn’t bofi:er to ask.
You got the answer you wanted and you printed
it.
Finally, Mr. Payne tells us he is not taking
a position on the election of a five-member
board. That doesn’t su;f(rise me because the
local leadershifl never takes a position on any
issue. Is this the way America is supposed to
work? Our leaders d)(,)n’t lead; they ?ollow.
Sincerely,
Lewis W. Strange
1375 Spring St., Atlanta
Route 3, Box 402, Summerville
they should be with the product being turned
out by our schools. The BEA should (firect its
leadership toward teaching and motivating
their students and reforming an education
system that sgends 50 percent of its budget on
a paper shuffling and req:dation creating
bureaucracy, whereas the other schools in the
world spent no more than 20 percent. We have
one supervisor for every six teachers but only
one teacher for every 25 students. Do the
teachers need more supervision than the
students?
It appears to me that the CEA has “bigger
fish to fry’’ than The Summerville News and
should re-think their decisions concerning the
School Bell Awards and parental choice.
To improve our education system %al{ents
should be able to choose where their children
go to school and in which school their tax
money is spent. And we need parents who make
their children study and stay in school. We need
to reward teachers who can teach with higher
than average salaries and pay for this by reduc
ing the educational bureaucracill that eats up
our tax money before it can reach the teachers.
Stan Cook
Chattoogaville
I knew them as Lige, Thurber and Ollie.
They were all of Summerville and a number of
grandchildren. Anyone with information, Blease
write Mrs. Juanita Walker, 508 Redbud Drive,
Huntsville, Ala. 35811,
Sincerely,
Mrs. Juanita Walker
508 Redbud Drive
Huntsville, Ala. 35811
thwhile purpose.
To be sure, there is some fat.
Once the fat is gone, and much of it has
been removed under the watchful eye of
the most fervent budget-slashers, the cut
ting must be done in those specific line
items dealing with programming and
personnel.
That means that some programs will
not be offered and some personnel will
have to be let go.
Neither of these actions are pleasant.
They are realities, however, that must
be faced by those politicians who promise
to cut the budget at all costs.
Providing the level of government ser
vices demanded by the electorate is expen
sive and getting more so.
Sooner or later, even the most vehe
ment of those budget-slashing politicians
will have to decide%:eow much government
they must have and how they intend to
pay for it.
— Clayton News/Daily
The Summerville News, Thursday, February 13,1992 ..
Response To President Bush
Dear Editor:
This is an ‘‘American Citizens” answer to
the President’s State of the union address! Mr,
Bush, where have you been the last three years?
Why have you seen fit to veto most bills
sent to you by Congress this 'year? You vetoed
the first unemployment billl Why Mr. Presi
dent? You seem to care more about your KOH
score than you do the working Yeople. nd
about the Free Health Insurance. I am for free
insurance for all people, say those who make
$50,000.00 or less. No need to worry about the
ball players who make millions. (Just kidding)!
'l*;xe people who now are on medicare
30 Good Things In County
Dear Editor:
Qur tourists’ attractions in our county I
think would be: (1) ‘‘Sloppy’’ Floyd Park, (2)
Dowdy’s Park, (3) The Depot (Doesn't it look
nice on the outside now?), (4) Two good libraries,
(5) Many lovely churches to worship in, (6)
Cemeteries (some like to browse there even), (7)
The lovely scenic overlook atop Taylors Ridge,
(8) Our beautiful old courthouse where the flag
flies proudly, also the post office (a flag is no
fiood without a real meanin'lg behind it. America
as that real meaning), (9) The lovely Mountain
Laurels in Cloudland when they bloom in May
and June, the Cloudland Park, streams and wild
beauty there, (10) The mountain and ridge rocks
%some folks like rocks and admire them and
erns, dogwoods, honeysuckles and all in the
spring), (11) The new road signs and signs say
ing, Keep Georgia Peachy Clean, (12) The love
ly hills and valfleys as each season changes —
and Twin Oaks for canoeing, (13) Our rivers,
streams and lakes, (14) Our wildlife, deer, squir
rels, rabbits, o'possums, turtles, fish and al? the
beautiful birds, (15) The Summerville Motel just
over Talylors Ridge and the Sequoyah Motel
ifOOd places to rest overnight or stay a few
ays), (16) All the wonderful restaurants and
that Southern home cooking, (17) There are a
few caves; I do not know their exact location,
(18) A beautiful starry night and the big moon
setting the area for a night of romance, (19)
WGTA radio which grovides beautiful music,
the latest news, and ball games, talk show and
Sunday programs (a God centered station), (20)
The Summerville News center and the Chat-
Letters To Editor Policies
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Summerville News
welcomes letters to the editor. They should
average no more than 250-300 words in length.
They must be written on every other line or
t;&fewritten and doublespaced for ease of
editing. Letters should be brought by The News
office, Rome Boulevard, or mailed to P. O. Box
310, Summerville, Ga. 30747, so that they will
arrive no later than noon on Monday.
The News reserves the right to edit letters
for length, taste and libel.
The newspaper no longer accepts ‘‘thank
Guest Column
By Matthew J. Glavin
More Freedom In Thlisi
Than In Atlanta?
Governor Zell Miller recently returned
from the former Soviet Union on a trip
designed to promote trade with Georgia.
The Governor should have taken the op
portunity to appoint a Russian blue ribbon
team to visit our fine State and advise our
legislature on the benefits of a free market.
The Russian delegation could arrive at
the government owned Atlanta airport
and take the state-owned train to a state
owned hotel and conference center. Their
meals would be served in the government
owned restaurant. After lunch, they could
take in a round of golf on the state-owned
golf course. Meanwhile, their wives and
children could visit the state-owned water
park. And, before they leave, they should
be sure to shop at one of the 18 state
owned farmers’ markets. Surrounded by
inefficient, bureaucratically managed,
state-run businesses, the Russians might
feel right at home.
Then again, they might not. The Rus
sians are rapidly attempting to develop a
free market economic system. They are
privatizing state-run enterprises. But,
Governor Miller and the Georgia
legislature steadfastly resist privatization.
The state is currently facing a $250
million budget deficit. Before imposing
more taxes or going further into debt, the
state should consider whether it really is
a proper role of state government to be
operating water slides, golf courses, ten
nis centers, carpet marts, and resort
islands. The Lake Lanier Recreational
Facility and the Jekyll Island water slide
should be sold immediately, along with the
Evergreen Conference Center, Stone
Mountain Inn, Amicola Falls Lodge, the
Lake Walter F. George Lodge, Pete
Phillips Lodge, Red Top Mountain Lodge,
and the Unicoi Lodge in Helen. And, while
they’re at it, the state should get out of the
farmers’ market business. Not only did the
state lose $900,000 last year on its
farmers’ markets, but it is immoral to
force private farmers’ markets to pay
taxes to subsidize their state-run
competitors.
Freedom and free enterprise are sweep
shouldn’t have to me SSOO. Please lower this,
please Mr. President. Two hundred dollars
would be more reasonable.
I, just as you do, remember the Depression
of the 1930 s very well. We hope that our great
nation never has to see this again. (Once is
enough)!
You, and the Congress, need to g:lt away
your differences and get us out of this mess.
Mr. President, I am but a mere citizen, yet
wish you well!
Sincerelf;,
Hugh “Peter” Gunn
Summerville
service stations, body shops and all kinds of fix
it up shops — If you need to sh:lp or get
something fixed, (22) A good hospital — and a
real nice nursing home, (23) A sheriff’s da:t
ment with five cars to serve you and a is
tian sheriff — good police department and
several fire departments and a telephone com
pany, (24) Flower shops to order flowers for
{)our love, and the jewelry stores (Valentine’s
ay is coming up), also cosmetic shops an;i‘fier
fume, (25) Drug stores to serve your medical
needs, (26) A good ambulance service for
emergencies ams other reasons, (27) Tow ser
vices and wrecker services (If you have an ac
cident), (28) The very important Rescue Squad:
and Jaws are always there, (29) Good places to
work — factories are here — and garbage
pickup improved, (30) The new Hays C. 1. (most
modern). I know I've left some thin%s out.
But — I did do 30 thinfs — and if there is
a donut shop, I am glad, I love donuts.
I am so proud the magistrate’s are moving
downstairs in the courthouse even though I'm
not very educated on the duties and services
of those in the courthouse — but through trials
and errors — I'm learning. I'm trying to learn
about things still and I'm 52 years old.
Every day — I'm like a little duck in a new
world. I try to have a good day in spite of all
that’s bad, and that's the old devil when bad
things haggen — and I hate him.
Mary Childers
Summerville Rte. 3
P. S. Big Foot may roam the hills as David
Brown once said.
you’’ or “‘appreciation’ letters from any in
dividual club, church or group; such comments
must be in the form of paid ads.
The News does not publish poetry in letters
to the editor.
Every letter must list the writer’s name,
signature, address and daytime telephone
number so that authorship may be verified. The
News does not withhold the name of letter
writers except under very rare circumstances
to be determined solely by the editor and owner
ship of the newspaper.
ing the globe. Americans are con
gratulating themselves on winning the
cold war; communism has collapsed, our
free market system has won. Isn’t it ironic,
therefore, that there may soon be more
free enterprise in Thlisi, Georgia, than in
Atlanta, Georgia?
9 e
Matthew J. Glavin is the President of
the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, an
independent, non-partisan research and
education organization based in Atlanta,
Georgia. Permission is hereby given to
reprint this article, with appropriate credit
given.
On The Funny Side
from editorial page
Reporter: You're saying Bill Clinton
approached you privately for an
endorsement?
Me: Well, not exactly privately.
Reporter: What exactly, then?
* * *
ME: WELL, 1 was standing with
several strangers on a street corner,
waiting for a bus the day before the elec
tion in 1975, and along came Bill. He shook
hands with everyone, of course, but then
he looked directly at me and said, “‘l'd ap
preciate your vote tomorrow for Attorney
General.”
Reporter: That’s all?
Me: Of course that’s not all! He also
hfmded me a campaign flyer and a lapel
pin.
Reporters: That's it! We're outa here.
Me: Wait! Don’t you want my assess
ment of Bill Clinton?
Reporters: Okay, so what’s your
assessment?
Me: Well, he looks, um, older now. He
may have put on a few pounds, too. And
his hair is —
Hey, where's everybody going?
Hmmm. Guess they were working on a
deadline. Too bad. They didn’t get to hear
about the time I waved at President
Reagan’s motorcade. ;
-
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“Accordin%To This Poll The Voters Agree .
With Him On Every Siqlgle Issue. Unfortunately...
They All Seem To Hate His Guts.”
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Steed 9
Good Teachers Recalled
SOMEWHERE I heard, ‘‘Those who can, do; those who
cannot, teach.” Certainly there have been teachers in my
past who could contribute some veracity to that arcane
quote. I'm particularly reminded of some economics in
structors who provoked the rhetorical question, “If you're
so smart, why aren’t you a multi-millionaire business per
son?”’
On the other side of the coin, there are some truly
outstanding instructors/teachers/educators who leap from
my memory and still evoke the ability to cause fear and
respectful admiration. The best teachers are ‘‘called” just
as surely as a minister of the Gospel is “called.”
* * *
MY FIRST GRADE teacher, Mrs. Helen Shoffeit, was
the perfect transition from the secure nest of home to the
big world of school. She was so sweet and gave us self con
fidence. Very few of us dared to challenge Mrs. Shoffeit,
not for fear of punishment, but for fear of displeasing her.
She took my classmate to the doctor to get the caryon
removed from his nose. And we learned.
Mr Rhudy Maxwell was the kind of teacher you want
your kid to have. He was a formidable seventh grade
teacher and also the principal. In those days, justice was
swift and sure and frequently gave you a sore fanny. Mr.
Maxwell was everyone's ““other’’ father. We feared and lov
ed him. We respected him. And we learned.
* * *
MRS. STELLA JONES was awesome! She taught
English and grammar. Proper English was something of
a revelation to some of us country kids. The use of a dou
ble negative could cause an upbraiding worthy of tears
from the strongest farm boy. One kid announced during
recess, ‘‘You don’t never want to use no double negative
in front of Mrs. Jones.”” She was mean and hard for good
reason. We learned.
Mrs. Marguerite Johnson taught English, literature,
and creative writing in high school. She made the required
reading come alive. She pushed us to write correctly and
with imagination. I'll never forget one ‘“pop” test when
she made us write a two page essay on the subject of the
pencil sharpener. I would be nervous if Mrs. Johnson
wanted to grade my columns. We're still learning.
* * *
THEN THERE WAS Mr. Holmes Cunningham. He
came as principal to our little country high school in the
late fifties full of the fire and “calling” real teachers
possess. Discipline in the school was lacking. Curriculum
was lacking. Funds were always lacking. Many of my
fellow students thought this man had to be the devil in
carnate because he was firm as he put the school on the
path to excellence.
Even though he was the principal, Mr. Cunningham
wasn’t quite ready to give up the classroom. He fashion
ed a course titled “‘Current Affairs” and taught us without
a textbook and certainly no teacher’s guide. Our resource
materials were newspapers, periodicals, essays and
anything else he found dealing with a current event.
* * *
HOLMES CUNNINGHAM opened my eyes to the
world beyond the classroom. He made me read and report
on Ralph McGill’s columns every day for months. Then
he made me read and report on Drew Pearson. He challeng
ed my naive opinions and made me defend my beliefs. I
learned that there are legitimate arguments on both sides
of most issues. Mr. Cunningham made me mad. He made
me work. He rejoiced in my discoveries and gave me an
undying love for newspapers the way they used to be. I
learned from him.
Now, well into middle age, I reflect on these great men
and women, named and unnamed, who were “called” to
teach and I am eternally grateful for what they gave me.
I'm grateful for those teaching today who have answered
the ‘“call.”
Car Wrecked, Stolen, Disabled?
— CALL —
* /‘ R\
O
AVAILABLE AT
HOWELL MOTORS, INC.
Phone 857-1325 Hwy. 27 N. - Summerville