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THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. DECEMBER 17. 2009 — PAGE 5A
Opinions
Give something that God
and Jesus would really understand
Dear Editor:
The population of Madison
County in 2001 was 25,750
people. And Oglethorpe
County was 12,635 folks. The
total population that benefits
from the Madison-Oglethorpe
Animal Shelter is over 38,385
people. If one considers that
perhaps half of that number is
children, that leaves more than
19,193 adults.
If each and every adult citizen
in these two counties gave only
one dollar, the shelter would
have enough to continue oper
ating into the near future —
$20,000. If only half of these
folks, 10,000, gave only one
dollar, the shelter could also
continue operating for a short
while with the generous match
ing funds of $10,000 recently
offered. If only one quarter of
this population 5,000 gave at
least two dollars each, with the
recent offer, the shelter would
not have to close right away. If
only one eighth of this popula
tion (2,500) gave four dollars
each, again, the shelter could
survive a while longer. If only
one sixteenth of the good folks
of these counties 1,200 gave
only eight dollars each, the
shelter could survive.
It’s Christmas, folks! I doubt
very seriously that God and
Jesus feel at all honored by
everybody spending money they
don’t have on gifts to exchange
with others, most of which
are never used or appreciated
and soon take up space in the
landfill. All this ridiculousness
only enriches the retail indus
try and stresses everyone out. I
call it the Hallmark Syndrome.
Of course, one does want to
get something for the kids, but
adults? At the very least, simply
knock one person off your gift
list and send them a card if you
must. Then send $1, $2, $4, $8
or more to the shelter. That’s the
kind of gift that God and Jesus
would really understand!
Sincerely,
Virginia Moss
Hull
Help one or two pets you’ve never met this Christmas
Dear Editor:
Anyone who has known me
for very long knows that I am
an animal lover. I was raised in
a home filled with warm fuzzy
creatures, and my parents taught
me that I had a responsibility to
try to help any animal that came
to me in time of need.
My life has been filled with
the joy these animals bring to
me. They are important to me.
The pets in my care are a
spoiled bunch - they sleep
secure in the knowledge that
Santa will bring something
special for them as well as for
the two-footed people in my
family.
Many animals, however,
are not so lucky. They roam
cold, wet streets, hoping to find
enough to eat. Every day I see
dead animals by the side of the
road, and my heart is sad.
For the last couple of years,
I have been privileged to be
associated with the Madison
Oglethorpe Animal Shelter.
Each year our facility takes in
hundreds of animals that need a
forever home. Sadly, our shel
ter’s budget has not increased
over the years, although operat
ing costs continue to climb. We
are now faced with more ani
mals than we can care for. With
the current dire employment
situation in our area, more and
more people are being forced
to make the decision to give up
their animals simply because
they have no way to care for
them. They cannot promise safe
shelter or regular meals, and
they make the humane decision
to give up an animal that may
have been like a member of
their family for several years.
We have many adult animals
that do not understand why
they no longer live with the
family they were part of. This,
too, breaks my heart, because
I cannot explain to the animals
that their owners didn’t abandon
them in anger. It amazes me that
most of the animals somehow
remain very loving and trusting
creatures, just waiting for then-
next home.
At this time of year we reach
deep into our pockets to pro
vide Christmas for our families.
Somehow, most of us find the
means to provide a few gifts to
our immediate family. My pets
are definitely part of my family,
and my own children have never
questioned the extra stockings
that are hung alongside then-
own each year. This year my
pets will receive one present
they’ve never seen before. They
will learn that they are help
ing animals in need. They will
receive a card ‘explaining’ to
them that a donation to MOAS
has been made in their name. I
think they will be proud.
I would like to challenge all
pet lovers to show their love for
their pets by helping one or two
they’ve never met. Every dona
tion, no matter the size, will be
a lifesaver.
Sincerely,
Carol Barnes
Says tax commissioner isn’t doing her job
Dear Editor:
In response to the article “Tax
sale planned,’’ tax commissioner
Louise Watson is planning a tax
sale in early March 2010. It is
certainly time for this sale. And
why are delinquent taxpayers
given a two-year free ride to pay
up? Listen up all property own
ers, that must mean we all can
be at least one year late paying
our tax.
The approximately 600 delin
quent property owners have been
given a free ride on the backs of
us who paid our taxes.
I do not believe Louise Watson
is doing her job as she stated in
the article. There is no excuse
for allowing approximately 600
delinquent taxpayers two to five
years to pay up.
Has our commission chairman
Anthony Dove not talked with
Louise Watson about the lack of
property tax collections? What
about it Mr. Dove?
I have talked to one commis
sioner who told me he had talked
with Louise Watson about the
lack of tax collecting. He told
me she said she feels sorry for
those who cannot pay. Your job
(Watson) is to collect property
tax.
We who came in to pay our tax
have done so on our own. You,
Louise Watson, did not “collect’’
any money from me.
In my opinion, you are a very
inefficient tax collector.
Am I the only concerned prop
erty owner in this county? I have
yet to read anyone else's opinion
on the tax commissioner’s office.
I hope you all remember how
inefficient this tax commissioner
has been when the next election
rolls around.
Sincerely,
Gene Lurwig
Danielsville
NEWS
Ha moves forward with water system upgrades
The Ila City Council voted
this month to award bids and
move forward with water
system improvements for the
town’s aging water system.
The council awarded a con
tract to replace the city’s water
main to First Georgia Pipeline,
Inc. in the amount of $271,932
and the contract for replacing
the city’s water meters was
awarded to D. Lance, Souther,
Inc. in the amount of $120,495.
City engineers Peoples and
Quigley will prepare the con
struction contracts and send
the Notice of Award to the con
tractors for signatures, accord
ing to the meeting minutes.
In another matter. Waste Pro,
the city’s garbage collection
company, was awarded a 3.5
percent increase in garbage
fees per year over the next
five years. The council also
agreed to a fuel cost clause in
the contract. The council also
requested a 30-yard dumpster
be left at the city’s mainte
nance building (instead of city
hall, as usual) for the last week
in December for residents’
use.
The council also discussed
extending the city limits and
asked city attorney Pat Graham
to look into the feasibility of
doing this and bring informa
tion on annexation to the Jan.
4 meeting.
The council voted to pay an
additional $12,000 on the city’s
USDA/Rural Development
Loan, whose balance is due in
December 2010.
The council agreed to have
gravel placed on the driveway
to the city’s new well.
Industrial authority
to meet Monday
The Madison County
Industrial Development
and Building Authority will
meet at 6 p.m., Monday,
Dec. 21, in the historic
county courthouse.
Agenda items include:
•Financial report.
•Water request.
•Utility Director Report:
a. billing report, b. 2008
water system expansion
update, c. Harrison Water
System Update.
•Other ID A-related issues;
a. Hull/Sanford sewer
project update and revise
construction standards
and sanitary sewer system
specifications amendment
number 1, b. Hull/Sanford
force main.
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Perplexed by reaction
to mutilation of dog
Dear Editor:
I am perplexed by the reaction of all involved parties to the
admitted mutilation of a family dog by a juvenile (December
3, 2009, juvenile admits to mutilating dog).
The owners of the victimized dog declined to press crimi
nal charges. This child needs psychological intervention.
Animal abuse is abnormal behavior, especially if it involves
genital mutilation!
Animal abuse often escalates into person abuse — an
extreme example is Jeffrey Dahmer. Perhaps the parents are
very concerned and loving and already seeking counseling
for the child. However, neglecting to pursue this situation
beyond financial compensation sends the message to others
that if you get caught abusing, mutilating, even castrating an
animal, there will be no real consequences.
Forgiving malicious property damage is also an error in
judgment. This will be recognized when we as taxpayers
pay for his sadly inevitable incarceration as an adult.
Sincerely,
Suzanne DeGrass
Thank you to those who
helped with ‘Toys for Joy’
Dear Editor:
Community Baptist Church’s Lighthouse
Ministries held its second annual “Toys for Joy” event
Dec. 5. Toys for Joy is a special event that gives new and
slightly used toys to families who are unable to provide
Christmas. At the event, we had new and used toys for the
families, each family receiving five toys apiece.
This year’s event was the largest yet.
We had 106 families come through our doors to receive
toys. In all, Toys for Joy gave toys to over 300 kids. That
means that over 1,500 toys went out the doors of our church
to families who truly need them. Not only did each family
get toys, but the first 75 families also received “Holiday
Meals” given by our church’s Young Adult class.
To see the appreciation of the people leaving with their
gifts was such a humbling experience. To see men and
women leave crying, thanking us. To hear them tell us how
much this helps and that we will never know how much
this means to them. It makes all those hours worthwhile
and makes you realize how blessed many of us truly are.
Even the ones who got small items that many of us would
consider junk were so grateful.
I want say “Thank You” to many, many families and indi
viduals. First off, I am so grateful to all the families who
donated to this event. Because of your donation, you brought
smiles to many children’s lives this Christmas. Also, thanks
to Community Baptist Church (Ila, Georgia) for your sup
port and for all your help with this event. I want to thank
each person who spent many, many hours preparing for and
working during this event... it wouldn’t have been possible
without you! I also want to thank the CBC Young Adult
class for providing these families with holiday meals. Last
but definitely not least, I want to thank each family who
came to this year’s Lighthouse Ministries event!
Again, I want to thank everyone who donated or helped
with Toys for Joy. Many families were touched and many
lives changed! Never would I believe that we would have
had such a great turnout of donations and families with this
only being our second event! Thank you all and may God
bless you this Christmas season and in the year to come!
Sincerely,
Tyler Mize
Lighthouse Ministries Director
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Or you can mail a letter to us at P.O. Box 658,
Danielsville, Ga. 30633, fax us at 706-795-2765 or
drop off a letter at our office across from the county
government complex on Hwy. 29. You may place the
letter in the drop box below the front porch window if
the office is closed.
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