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PAGE 4A — THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL THURSDAY. OCTOBER 22, 2009 Opinions Frankly Speaking frankgillispie671@msn.com By Frank Gillispie Important that we have underground communications Remember CB radio? That became the method of choice for personal communication a couple of decades ago. If you wanted to talk to your buddy, whereever he might be, you just pick up your microphone and call for him. It was an interesting thing, people wanted to talk to the world, but they did not necessarily want the world to know who was talking. So everybody had a “handle,” an on- the-air name and identity they used to hide their hue selves behind. Revealing your "handle” to someone was an act of trust and friendship. Well, that desire to express your opinion is still with us. And the desire to avoid criticism by hid ing behind a "cyber name” is as strong as ever. But now we use the Internet as the way to spread our messages. There are two common ways of doing this. Most news and opinion web sites have a “comments” feature where readers can respond to news and opinion immediately after the article. Even The Madison County Journal’s electronic edition has this feature. It can be entertaining and informative to read some of the comments that fol low my articles. The other way this underground communication system works is based on one word at the top of your e-mail account. With one click on the word "forward” you can send any e-mail message you receive on to friends and acquaintances. If you have a list of e-mail contacts, you just click "forward all” and every one on your list will receive the com munication. Now, all of my regular readers know that I often speak my mind on various topics. Some of my read ers will copy a column they found to be of interest on to their e-mail and send it out to Mends they feel will also find it of interest. If they do, they are likely to "forward” it to their mail list, and those may send it along. Occasionally, I will hit a nerve with one group or another and the column gets wide distri- bution in this manner. As a result, I sometimes get responses from strange places. Even a few Yankees have responded to my efforts. I also often receive such e-mail telling me of nefarious plans by this government agency, or that politician. Some of them are actually true. Many are rumors that someone started. I am sure that those of you with e-mail accounts get a lot of those as well. I have a policy of not "forwarding” these e-mails. I read them, then I do my best to check their sourc es, if they list any, and if there is something there that I think deserves comment, then I will make it a part of a column or include it in a "comments” page that I am establishing on my web domain. With the effort by big government to control everything in our lives, including the press, (the cur rent attacks on the Fox News Cable is an example,) it is important that we have an underground com munications system such as these. Just keep in mind that you should not believe everything you read, not even my writings, without checking the information for yourself. If you find something I have written to be of value and want to send it along to your Mends, please feel free to do so. I enjoy the responses. Frank Gillispie is founder of The Madison Countv Journal. His e-mail address is frank@ frankgillispie.com. His website can be accessed at http://www.frankginispie.com/giUispieonline. The politics of trash The politics of landfills will always be fierce, but that doesn’t eliminate the need for landfills. We all make trash. We just like to watch the truck take it away and forget about it. But that truck has to go somewhere. That debris is going to end up near somebody. The first picture I ever took for this newspaper was in 1998 of officials looking at Adams Clarke Road in Madison County as one of the many sites considered for a regional land fill. Little did I know then, that I’d five right near that site. In retrospect, I’m glad it didn’t happen. I wouldn’t want a dump near me. Who would? The regional landfill plans hit the trash can a decade ago because none of the 10 counties involved in the planning was willing to draw the short straw. If you get to ship your trash to your neighbor, then great. If your neighbor gets to truck his trash to you, well, Febreze won’t cover that stinker of a deal. As I drove back from my parents’ house in Macon this past weekend, I passed many "stop-the-landfill” signs as I neared the town of Madison. A municipal landfill is being proposed on Indian Creek Road in Morgan County. Then, I learned Monday that a public hearing was scheduled for that afternoon in Elbert County for a separate matter, a “biomass facility,” In the Meantime zach@ mainstreet news.com By Zach Mitcham where solid waste would be burnt by an incinerator, with steam running through a turbine generator to create elecMcity. The proposed Elbert County 250-acre site is located off an unpaved road at the "Broad River Stone” sign three miles from the Madison County line and the Broad River bridge. I headed to Elberton to attend the hear ing. And the Elbert County commis sioners’ room was packed for the 30-minute meeting. The session was a "needs assessment” meeting, where the BOC received comments from the public on what is needed in Elbert County. People wanted answers. But I’d say everyone probably left with more questions than answers. Will Elbert County approve a massive incinerator to bum trash? Would such a facility be an efficient way to dis pose of area trash or would it create harmful pollutants that outweigh any positive impact it might have? What about all the trash traffic on Hwy. 72? I’m not enthused about the idea of burning massive amounts of trash. I can’t help but think in simplis tic terms, recognizing that I’d rather stand next to a trash pile for a long time than be exposed to particles from a burning pile for a short time. I can’t help but recall the nauseating smell of burning plastic. I would be horribly upset about any such facility locating near me, no matter how many assurances I received from officials about its safe ty. Government environmental agen cies often rely on major indusMes to police themselves. But I don’t have much trust in that. Plus, polluters have a natural protection against any claim of sickness. If you think indus- Mal runoff or air toxins made you sick, well, try proving it in court. The burden of proof is on you. And that can be difficult, given all the possible genetic, lifestyle and other environ mental factors that could be intro duced as cause for sickness. Apart from the effect on people, I also won der how a massive “biomass facility” might impact the nearby Broad River. That’s a pretty huge matter, too. All that said, I don’t feel the Elbert County commissioners are villainous in considering a new trash proposal. The fact is, trash has to go somewhere. But where? If northeast Georgia can’t agree on a regional landfill site, then each county must address its needs on its own. I couldn’t get on board for an incinerator, particularly one near a pristine river, but I can hardly blame Elbert County commissioners for thinking long-term on an inevitable need. It’s much easier for leaders to pass the volatile trash disposal issues on to the next set of leaders. Talking trash is never a political winner. Both Morgan County and Elbert County are among the 10 north east Georgia counties that worked a decade ago to establish a regional landfill. And now, without a regional landfill in place, both are looking to address solid waste needs on their own. So what will Madison County do in the long haul with its trash? Right now, Madison County transports its trash to a landfill near Homer. But county solid waste director Sandra Webb, who serves as a county regional solid waste representative, has repeatedly said that counties in this area need to put their heads together and address long-term trash needs. Of course, no one wants to think of trash. It’s the ultimate out-of-sight, out-of-mind issue. Watch the truck pick it up and it magically disap pears. If only it was that simple. Zach Mitcham is editor of The Madison County Journal. Letters to the Editor Victim’s family expresses disappointment in ‘not guilty’ verdict Dear Editor: An open letter to the members of the jury and defense attorney regarding the Christian Oliverio trial: He was found "not guilty” even with the overwhelming evidence against him. What a travesty of justice! You chose to ignore the evidence. He was DUI, he failed to yield the right of way, two others were hurt and a young mother lost her life! You seemed concerned with Oliverio having to live with this the rest of his life. What about HER family. We have lost a daughter and sister. More importantly, what about the 3-year-old who will never know her mother? Did you con sider any of this in your verdict? It seems by your verdict that drinking and driving is acceptable in our society. How depraved we have become that we cannot con vict the guilty! We hope and pray that you are not the next one to meet him on the highway. We are disappointed in you-the jury. Justice was not served. We struggle to make sense of the ver dict. Would any of you care to explain it to us? Would you tell this beautiful little girl why she has no mommy? Sincerely, Vicki Shenk and the family of Summer Faith Shenk Get on board with the Little League Dear Editor: It is that time again when the Madison County Little League will hold its annual general member ship meeting. It is at this meeting that a new Board of Directors will be voted in for the 2010 season. Madison County Little League is a 501(C)(3 Corporation under the charter of Little League International. Every person that is associated with Madison County Little League is a volunteer We are looking for volunteers to be on the Board of Directors for 2010 as well as general members that are willing to volunteer their time to help our Little League program so that we can give every child in Madison County the opportunity to play Little League baseball and softball. The general membership is comprised of all the parents, coaches, volunteer umpires and any other citizen of Madison County that would like to volunteer. The new Board of Directors for 2010 will then be voted in by the general membership at this meeting. It takes a lot of money, time and energy to run our Little League program every year. It costs on an average of $125 per child to play baseball and softball each year. Currently we are charging only $65 per child to play. Therefore, we as a league must raise the addi tional $60 per child through fund raisers and sponsorships. Fund raisers take the participation of every player, parent, and coach in order to make this happen and we need all the help and participation we can get. Without everyone’s participation with our fund-raisers, we would have to raise our regis tration fees each year. I would also like to thank all of our local business in Madison County as well as business in sur rounding counties that have sup ported our program through spon sorships last year and in years. Your support is greatly appreci ated. If you are interested in being a general member, a member of the Board of Directors or are just curious about how Little League works, I invite you to come to our annual meeting. The meeting will be on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. at the courthouse in Danielsville in the commissioner’s meeting room. If you need more informa tion or have any questions about our league and what is involved, please call me at 706-206-2153. I look forward to seeing you at our meeting. Sincerely, Chuck Branson President of MCLL E-mail — cbranson@collin- scpa.com Website — www.madisoncoun- tylittleleague.com The Madison County Journal (Merged with The Danielsville Monitor and The Comer News, January 2006) P.O. Box 658 Hwy. 29 South Danielsville, Georgia 30633 Phone: 706-795-2567 Fax: 706-795-2765 Email: zach@mainstreetnews.com ZACH MITCHAM, Editor MARGIE RICHARDS, Reporter/Office Manager BEN MUNRO, Reporter/Sports Editor MIKE BUFFINGTON, Co-publisher SCOTT BUFFINGTON, Co-publisher FRANK GILLISPIE, Founder of The Journal. Jere Ayers (deceased) former owner of The Danielsville Monitor and The Comer News Periodical postage paid at Danielsville, Georgia 30633 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Madison & surrounding counties $19.75/year State of Georgia $38.85/year Out-of-state $44.50/year Military personnel with APO address $42.50/year Senior rate $2 off all above rates College student discount rate $2 off all above rates POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: THE MADISON COUNTY JOURNAL P.O. Box 658, Danielsville, GA 30633 A publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. Thanks to those who helped make fair memorable By Teresa Dove As children, we would look for ward to the fall of the year when the fair came to town. It would bring the rides and games we would enjoy; and, oh boy, the food! Remember the hot dogs, ham burgers, candied apples and the cot ton candy that we would eat until we were stuffed! It was a place for families to have fun. Well, the county fair has not changed too much since those days; there is a lot for the family to enjoy today. There are still rides that thrill and chill (though the music is different) to our funny bones. Games that test our skill and all manner of food to enjoy! Yes, we still have the tradi tional fare: hot dogs, hamburgers, cotton candy and candied apples. But now we have in addition to these, such things as funnel cakes, sausage dogs, with all the trim mings, pizza, roasted com on the cob, fried pies, pork rinds, roasted and boiled peanuts (just to name a few). In addition, all of the soda we can drink provided it does not send us into a caffeine frenzy. There are also the livestock shows, craft exhibits, and club exhibits that show the thought and hard work put into them during the previous year. Yes, these are memories that we cherish in our lifetime, especially our children. This year, as PR chair, I have gotten to see these memories in the making, catching these memories in the pictures. I have gotten to see friends that I have not seen in a while, catching up with each oth er's lives and speaking to complete strangers for a picture. I enjoyed hearing the screams and laughter of children (and children at heart) on the rides and having a good time. I have gotten to eat my share of the “once-a-year” fair food, enjoying the music and laughter of those who came to entertain us. I watched those dedicated young people and their parents working with their ani mals in those livestock shows, hop ing to get first place or better yet. Grand Champion. I applaud these young people for their work and dedication. May they have contin ued success. The Comer Lions Club thanks eveiyone who had taken a part (whether a small or large one) to make the fair a place of memories. You may have been a parent watch ing your child in a show, a local ven dor, city police or EMS. You may have helped with concessions, been an employee of the James Gang or entered a craft for exhibit. You may have been one of the bands that brought us entertainment and bright personalities. Whatever you have done to help make memories, we say “thank you.” Again, thanks for supporting the Comer Lions Club. Enjoy the mem ories. Teresa Dove is public relations chairperson for the Comer Lions Club. Thanks for community support Dear Editor: I want to thank each and every one for all the calls, cards, and especially all your prayers during my recent illness. May God richly bless you all. Sincerely, Ralph House