Newspaper Page Text
PACE 4A
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2008
Editor: Angela Gary
Phone: 706-367-2490
E-mail: AngieEditor@aol.com
Website: www.banksnewsTODAY.com
Opinions
“Where the press is free and every tnan
able to read, all is safe.”
— Thomas Jefferson
Our View
Time for action on
BCES situation
It’s been two months since the Banks County
Elementary School assistant principal became the
center of controversy due to a situation in which
male fifth grade students were allegedly forced to
drink from a water fountain which had an unknown
substance poured into it.
Parents have demanded action with both those sup
porting Rylee and those wanting action to be taken
against her being very vocal. The long-time educa
tor was placed on leave for two weeks with pay but
has returned to the classroom. The board has stalled
on announcing what, if any, further action will be
taken.
“Legal reasons” has been given for the postpone
ment of any further action. That is ridiculous. The
results are in. Everyone knows the substance was not
urine, as had been alleged.
The board needs to do one of two things —
announce that the two weeks leave with pay was the
only action to be taken against Rylee or to decide
what further action is to be taken. Postponing action
indefinitely is only causing the situation to continue
to remain a topic of gossip and debate.
The school board needs to take action and take it as
soon as possible to put this situation to rest. School
will be starting in a few weeks and we all need to put
this situation behind us and move forward.
Low voter turnout
a disturbing trend
A 37 percent voter turnout is slightly above the aver
age for North Georgia, however, it is still disturbing that
so few voters turned out to the polls last week to decide
several major races.
A sheriff was re-elected. A new board of commission
chairman was elected. A runoff between two district
attorney candidates was set, as well as a runoff for a
State Senate race and a U.S Senate race.
All of these are very important races that will shape
the future of this area. Growth, a drought and related
water concerns and an increase in crime are just a few
of the issues Banks County will be facing.
Voters need to be involved in selecting leaders that
will shape our future. Voter turnout should have been
80 or 90 percent.
Local elections have often been decided by just a
handful of votes. Every vote does count and we all
need to be heard. Voting is a privilege that blood has
been and continues to be shed over in some countries.
We need to make time to go to the polls whenever an
election is planned.
A runoff election is set for Aug. 5. With just a few
races on the ballot, it's possible turnout will be lower
than 37 percent. Let’s not let this happen. We now have
more voting options than ever before. With absentee
voting and advance voting, as well as election day, there
is no excuse for not voting.
Let your voice be heard.
The Banks County News
Founded 1968
The official legal organ of Banks County, Ga.
Mike Buffington.
Scott Buffington .
Angela Gary
Chris Bridges . . .
Sharon Hogan. . .
Anelia Chambers
Suzanne Reed...
Co-Publisher
. Co-Publisher
Editor
Sports Editor
.... Reporter
. Receptionist
Church News
Phones (all 706 area code):
Angela Gary Phone 367-2490
Angela Gary Fax 367-9355
Homer Office Phone 677-3491
Homer Office Fax 677-3263
(SCED 547160)
Published weekly by
Main Street Newspapers, Inc.,
P.O. Box 908, Jefferson, Ga. 30549
Subscription in county $19.75
Subscription in state $38.85
Subscription out of state $44.20
Military with APO address $42.20
Senior citizens get a $2 discount
Periodicals postage paid at Homer, Ga. 30547
Postmaster, send address changes to:
Subscriptions,
The Banks County News,
P.O. Box 920,
Homer, Ga. 30547
Member: Georgia Press Association
Georgia Sports Writers Association
National Newspaper Association
comments from
www.BanksNewsTODAY.com
Comments posted following
Tuesday’s election:
“The sheriff in Banks County should
take these election results as put
ting him on notice. Apparently, many
Banks County citizens are not happy
with your administration. Too close
for comfort?”
•••
“It is unbelievable that Chapman
actually won again. I wonder if the
count is correct. The citizens of this
county have spoken. It is time for
some serious law enforcement in this
county. We needed a sheriff that would
have put quality officers on the road.
For another four years, we will have
even more increases in crime while
the sheriff has his boys sit around so it
does not upset one voter. I guess I will
need to stay at home more to protect
my property. Chapman, these results
are a wake up call.”
•••
“What change could you suggest to
Sheriff Chapman? I would really like
to know because the results were close
as were they the last election, but does
that mean anything? If Banks County
is looking for a change, it must be the
same people that wanted a change
last election, again not enough. This
is Banks County and think what you
want but the people here are probably
not looking for a change. Obama prob
ably will not win here either, unless
we have all lost our minds, and we
have all heard him say change numer
ous times. I would say that the people
here that have opinions about Sheriff
Chapman are saying, ‘If it ain’t broke,
don’t fix it.’ Also, if Sheriff Chapman
was voted in yet again then the major
ity of the people want him there
and approve of his performance, why
would he change anything now?”
•••
“What change would you suggest?
Obviously, the majority believes that
the sheriff has done a good job but I’m
sure that if you have any suggestions
that the sheriff would be glad to hear
them.”
•••
“Banks County cannot continue to
follow the same path and give us
quality protection with regards to our
law enforcement. Perhaps the sheriff
is doing his best, but sometimes one’s
best is just not enough. What change
would I suggest? Check to see what
kind of deal Banks County has with
other agencies in sharing the drug
money that is confiscated in this coun
ty. It’s going out the door to another
county. Why? Banks County does not
receive the federal grant money that
is available because we don’t know
where to find it. That too would the
sheriff’s responsibility. Sometimes,
just working within the budget and
keeping the jail clean are not enough.
Will he admit that perhaps his time
has come and step aside with some
dignity intact?”
•••
“Hopefully Chapman will read these
issues that have been addressed here
and evaluate his office. I voted for
him, and I feel that he can improve
areas within his administration. Why
don’t you make an appointment with
the sheriff and express your concerns
to him and allow him the chance to
explain the why’s and what for’s. Just
for the record — lam educated, born
and raised here and I have never been
in trouble with the law. I am an active
supporter of the community by volun
teering.”
• ••
“I am thankful that Banks County
will have a new chairman of commis
sioners in January. I just regret that
the current chairman will have five
months left to continue to make even a
bigger mess of county issues and that
the new chairman will have to come in
and straighten things out.
“I believe that the voters adequately
expressed their concerns about the
current chairman and their desires for
new leadership in the commissioner’s
office when voting on Tuesday. A
county resident was recently asked a
question by supporters of Gene Hart,
‘How can you do this to him after
all he has done for Banks County?’
When she asked this question, she
was referring to the gentleman stating
his preference for a new chairman of
commissioners. I would like to answer
that question. He did this to himself
by poor decision making, arrogance
when interacting with the people and
his failure to work with the people
instead of against them.
How critical is it to complete the
new courthouse structure? Is it worth
working on weekends to accomplish
this? Are the people of Banks County
paying overtime or was it contracted
for a certain price regardless of the
amount of time worked on the struc
ture?
The current facility is accomplish
ing every day duties and has been
for years, so what is the rush all of a
sudden?
See Comments on page 5A
Letters to the editor policy given
The Banks County News has estab
lished a policy on printing Letters to
the Editor.
We must have an original copy of
all letters that are submitted to us for
publication.
Members of our staff will not type
out or hand-write letters for people
who stop by the office and ask them
to do so.
Letters to the Editor must also be
signed with the address and phone
number of the person who wrote
them.
The address and phone number
will be for our verification purposes
only and will not be printed unless
the writer requests it. Mail to,
The Banks County News, RO. Box
920, Homer, Ga. 30547.
E-mailed letters will be accepted,
but we must have a contact phone
number and address. Letters that are
libelous will not be printed.
Letters may also be edited to meet
space requirements. Anyone with
questions on the policy is asked to
contact editor Angela Gary at
AngieEditor@aol.com or by calling
706-367-2490.
News department contact numbers
Anyone with general story ideas,
complaints or comments about the
news department is asked to call edi
tor Angela Gary at 706-367-2490.
She can also be reached by e-mail
at AngieEditor@aol.com.
Anyone with comments, questions
or suggestions relating to the coun
ty board of commissioners, county
government, county board of educa
tion and crime and courts is asked to
contact staff reporter Chris Bridges
at 706-367-2745 or by e-mail at
chris@mainstreetnews.com.
Bridges also is sports edi
tor of the paper and covers local
high school, middle school and
recreation sports.
Anyone with comments, ques
tions or suggestions relating to
Alto. Lula. Baldwin and Gillsville,
should contact Sharon Hogan at
706-367-5233 or by e-mail at
sharon @ mainstreetnews. com.
Calls concerning the City of
Maysville should go to staff report
er Justin Poole at 706-367-2348.
Calls for information about the
church page should go to Suzanne
Reed at 706-677-3491. Church
news may also be e-mailed to
churchnews@mainstreetnews.com.
The Banks County News website
is updated throughout the week and
can be accessed on the Internet at
www.banksnewsTODAY.com.
Influenced by
many strong,
successful women
C o-worker Jana Mitcham wrote
an excellent column last week
chronicling what women in the
area went through in gaining the right to
vote several decades ago.
While it almost seems comical now
that at one time women could not vote,
in reality, it wasn’t that long ago that this
backwards law existed, as baffling as it
seems today. I sit in an office next to Jana
and have long admired her work ethic and
journalistic ability. Outside of the office
she is a dedicated
mom and wife and
defines what I
consider to be a
successful woman
in the year 2008.
To deny someone
like Jana the right
to vote because of
her gender is the
ultimate insult to
anyone with half a
brain.
Personally, I’ve
never been threat
ened by strong-minded women. It’s prob
ably because I’ve always been surrounded
by them and their influence helped shape
me into the person I am today. I believe
strongly in full equal rights for women
(probably more than some women do) and
it makes me angry when I hear men try to
deny women even the most basic measure
of those equal rights.
Some of the strong women who have
influenced me include my mother who is
probably the smartest person I have ever
known — male or female. A retired teach
er, my mom seldom encounters a problem
she can’t tackle. From finances to decod
ing a confusing document I receive in the
mail, her 37-year-old son still turns to her
for advice.
Both my maternal and paternal grand
mothers were women I grow up admiring
for their strength, dedication to family
and caring natures. To have known both
of them for so long is something I will
always treasure. I miss them both and
would give anything to spend a little time
with them today.
My better half is also a woman I admire
and not because she laughs at my silly
recollections of childhood memories. She
has dedicated herself to the political pro
cess, making it a point to stay informed
on the latest happenings of the world,
many times more so than her journalist
sidekick who considers himself a political
junkie.
My better half’s mom is also a woman
I have come to admire very much during
the last 13 plus years. In fact, I would say
she is a personal hero of mine. She has
had to overcome some personal obstacles
during her life but you never hear her
complain or ask for pity. She serves as a
second mom to me and there have been
times when she dishes out motherly
advice as though I were her own son.
There isn’t anything within my power I
wouldn’t do for her.
In addition, my better half’s grand
mother, Lucille, is a unique woman. Now
in her 80s, she defies stereotypes by keep
ing up with today’s culture, even more
than people younger than myself do. She
can tell you about the latest American Idol
episode or what the latest gossip is before
it is printed in the tabloids. On a more
serious note, I am thankful to be able to
soak up her knowledge and wisdom and
look forward to continue doing so for
many more years.
All of this brings me back to my origi
nal point of woman having the right to
vote. When I think of how each of the
women I have talked about in this col
umn are all smarter than me in so many
ways, it would be insane for them not to
have the right to vote just because of their
gender. While our society still needs to
advance in some areas, at least we have
progressed in this one.
I would be proud to stand side-by-side
with any of these woman on election day.
In fact, it I would be proud to let any of
these women go before me and cast their
vote. I know each of them has earned that
right, just as all women have. While some
weak men may still feel threatened by
strong women, I am not.
As we move forward in 2008, let’s
remember the contribution women have
made to the political process and in our
lives.
Chris Bridges is a reporter for The
Banks County News. Contact him at
706-367-2745 or e-mail comments to
chris@mainstreetnews.com.