Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2008
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
PAGE 5A
Letters to the Editor
Comments on lack of animal control
School News
Dear Editor:
On the subject of animal control
for Banks County, I am motivated
by concern and compassion for the
suffering of those creatures entrust
ed to our care to stand with other of
my fellow citizens to give a voice to
those who have no voice to advocate
for themselves.
To the veterinarian who wrote
to you several months ago, I say
“Ma’am, I share your frustration
and heartbreak over the lack of ser
vices to address the problems you
described.”
Growing up in the late 1940s -
1950s in a region, which offered
no veterinary medical services at
the time, I discovered the priceless
value of compassion for the suffer
ing at a very young age as I cared
for sick, injured or dying pets. Those
experiences inspired me to achieve
my seemingly unattainable goal,
given the circumstances of my child
hood, to (I’m humbled to say) go to
college, earn a degree in Nursing
Science and practice as a Registered
Nurse then later the privilege to
offer my nursing skills in honorable
service in the U.S. Army.
I am responsible and compelled to
give back what I was given through
the suffering of those creatures,
lower on the scale than I, by design,
in the taxonomic designation of all
living organisms. That is why I
speak on their behalf.
It seems to be the canine species
in Banks County which are most
often seen as “the problem,” i.e.
“vicious dogs, stray dogs, roaming
dogs scavenging for food” etc., etc.
We need to ask ourselves why these
dogs are causing so many problems
- what is the root of the problem?
If we must use the word or phrase
animal “control,” perhaps we might
want to entertain the thought of
humane animal control, i.e. a
humanely overseen comprehensive
animal control ordinance with spe
cific guidelines to address specif
ic issues, laws in place to support
these guidelines, strict enforcement
of those laws and fines imposed on
those of use who may need assis
tance to become responsible animal/
pet owners.
Those fines would surely gener
ate some revenue to fund services,
Mr. Hart. The “control” methods
we now have (“just shoot them,
starve them, let them die from para
site infestations and other diseases/
complications best addressed by a
veterinarian) are simply not solving
the problem - many do die from the
above conditions however, they are
soon replaced in spades by own
ers who allow uncontrolled, indis
criminate breeding to produce more
unwanted puppies to join the ranks
of the already plentiful supply.
I reiterate a question posed in a let
ter to “Dear Editor” recently. “Why
do you not want a comprehensive,
humanely overseen animal control
ordinance, Mr. Hart?”
I now wish to express apprecia
tion to officer Mike Wood. Officer
Wood, if it is true that you are allow
ing your K-9 partner of the canine
species to sleep in your house at
night, then you, in my opinion, are
a shining example for our kids to
show concern for the safety and
comfort of officer Jo Jo.
Bless both of you as you are out
there every day risking your lives to
protect our kids and set an example
for us all!
To Sheriff Chapman, thank you
sir, for purchasing the van so that
officer Jo Jo will be more comfort
able as he and Officer Wood are out
on the roads working long hours -
your concern for his comfort is also
a positive example for our kids and
for all of us.
Sincerely,
Linda Shelton
Qualifies lor nationals...
STATE CHAMPS
The Banks County High School FFA team, consisted of (from left) Caiti Brown, Quinton Krieg,
Koltan Pendley, Cody McMahan and advisor/coach Kipp Jackson, recently won the state cham
pionship in the Livestock Judging Competition. The team has earned the right to compete at
Nationals during October in Indianapolis.
BCHS FFA earns state championship
Open letter to Congressman Paul Broun
Dear Editor:
Open letter to Congressman Paul Broun:
Dear Dr. Broun, I’ve received your forceful letter
ranting against our current federal tax system. This is to
respectfully disagree with nearly every point you made.
I do agree that the process of filing taxes is daunting,
for those of us with adequate income and investments
to hire an accountant to do it for us. For those who file
the short form, most senior citizens and persons with
moderate to low income, it is remarkably easy and help
is available for those unable to do their own taxes.
Your assumption that we should all pay the same tax
rate (fair tax) seems to assume that all come into this
world equally able to become rich and to inherit that
needed to prosper, often without hard work. I’m afraid
that is delusional. I’m sure you have seen persons in
your medical practice who have various handicaps,
medical and mental, that prevent them from the high
achievement you describe. Many are born into poor
families, and single parent homes where survival is the
achievable goal, not great wealth. In short, the fair tax is
regressive, and is opposed by most thinking, fair-minded
Americans.
For those of you who run for public office and think
what your constituents want to hear is to cut taxes and
throw out the immigrants, you may be surprised when
you find the majority of people of Northeast Georgia
have more compassion, guided by their religious beliefs
in Jesus Christ who demonstrated a far different way.
Sincerely,
Mary Ellen Myers
Alto
Memorial Day salute scheduled at BCHS
A Memorial Day salute to the
Armed Forces program and con
cert will be presented in the Banks
County High School auditorium at 8
p.m. on Thursday, May 29.
Northwinds Adult Community
Band of Gainesville will present a
tribute to all veterans.
“Come hear this professional band
play music from the different wars
and familiar American tunes,” said
Jon Congdon, BCHS band director.
“There will also be special pictures
from the wars and from local vet
erans. It will certainly be a moving
experience.”
For more information, contact
Congdon at 706-677-4740.
The Banks County High School
FFA Livestock Judging Team has
earned elite status.
In recent weeks, the team — con
sisting of members Caiti Brown,
Quinton Krieg, Koltan Pendley,
Cody McMahan — captured the
state championship and has earned
the right to compete at the National
Competition, which will be held in
October during the National FFA
Convention in Indianapolis. For
advisor Kipp Jackson and his team
members, this is a culmination of
months of preparation and work.
“We are very excited because all
of their hard work and practice has
paid off,” Jackson said.
BCHS also qualified for Nationals
Jessica Lee Mullins graduated
from the Medical College of Georgia
School of Medicine.
The ceremony was held Friday,
May 9, at the James Brown Arena in
Augusta, and recognized Mullins as
an M.D. She will move to Winston-
Salem, N.C., to complete her resi-
in 2006. In 2007, BCHS finished
second in state by four points and
went to Denver for the National
Western Stock Show. (Second place
teams get the chance to go to the
stock show but must pay their own
way. BCHS raised the funds to com
pete.)
FFA has divided Georgia into six
areas. Each area is allowed to send
two teams to the State Livestock
Judging Competition. Each area
holds its own competition to deter
mine the top two teams. Banks
County’s area consists of 25 coun
ties, primarily Northeast Georgia,
and schools compete against each
other regardless of classification.
Teams are comprised of four mem-
dency at the Wake Forest University
Baptist Medical Center. She eventu
ally hopes to practice in the field of
oncology.
Mullins was a 2001 graduate of
Banks County High School and
went on to obtain a B.A. degree in
biology at Berry College.
bers and the top three scores count
with the lowest being dropped.
Participants in the Livestock
Judging CDE (Career Development
Event) evaluate cattle, swine and
sheep for breeding and market
purposes. Contestants also pres
ent oral reasons on selected class
es to defend their selection deci
sions. Performance data will also
be included in keep/cull and placing
classes of breeding animals, Jackson
said.
The BCHS team knows Nationals
will be the ultimate in competition.
“Each state can only send one
team,” Jackson said. “So we will
be competing against the best from
each state.”
See more
School News
on Page 8B
BCHS graduate completes medical school
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