| | 1. It is far more impressive when others discover your good qualities with out your help.
2. Postal Service advocates projected last year that mail use would fall from 202.2 billion pieces in 2003 to 181.7 billion by 2007.
3. 14 million people may have Alzheimer’ by 2050.
4. Each year 1.5 million fractures are attributed to “steoporosis”
5. Tribal designs are the most popular tattoo despite little or no symbolic significance behind that particular art.
6. Slightly more than one-third of West Virginians, who filled out the US Census Bureau’ long form questionnaire in 2000, left the ancestry question blank.
7. Nationally, sulfur dioxide emissions increased by 4 percent between 2002 and 2003.
8. According to data released by a Forest Service analysis in 2002, red and white oaks have declined annually by about 25,5000 cubic board feet.
9. West Virginia has almost double the national average of lawmakers who are employed by other governmental entities.
10. As of September 1, West Virginia has experienced 8 coal-mining deaths.
11. More than 86,000 Americans are waiting for an organ transplant that could save their life.
12. The Navy, Marine Corp and Air Force all met or exceeded their 2004 recruiting targets.
13. Jack Daniels old No 7, black label now registers 80 proof instead of 86 or 40 percent versus 43 percent alcohol.
14. West Virginia workers are paying 40 percent more for their health insurance than they did four years ago, according to National Health Care Consumer Group.
15. The new $10 dollar bill is expected to be unveiled this spring and put into circulation in fall 20005.
16. In 2000 less than a dozen prisoners voted, out of 1,500 who were eligible.
17. Women are less likely than men to get oral cancer.
18. West Virginia football and basketball games can now be heard on Sirius Satellite Radio.
19. General Mills is converting all its breakfast cereals to “hole grain”
20. The Internet is 35 years old this month.
LMM
CHATTER OUR RIGHTS
I will try to make this simple for people who might not understand about your rights as they stand, that you have learned in civics class in school. The Declaration of Independence, we have not gotten everything that was written. Just read it and you will understand, maybe.
This year be very, very careful on whom you vote for. We all know it’ hard to pick strawberries from a patch that doesn’ have anything but grapes. The proper people who could run the country can’ be elected, because they are not rich, and if they are, they are not democrat or republican.
Be careful about a few of your rights, and I will just mention a few, but believe me these lead to everything. Freedom of religion, there are people who want to change more of God’ laws for their own, example, homosexually and gay marriages. Even a horse knows he can’ breed with a chicken, why do these people want to force others and themselves into something that is God given common sense wrong! You may say let them do what they want, but the more our kids see it, the more they get use to it, and the more bad things they see, which others say are OK or people get away with, they as well as everyone, get use to the idea, that it’ OK, and it doesn’ hurt a thing!
The second amendment is being pushed on very hard, and it’ going to get worse all the time. For those who don’ know what this is, it is the original homeland security law - “HE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS”
If people get used to sin, which our children are, and parents are too lazy to tell them it’ wrong, and we lose the second amendment, then our country is wide open. It is almost to the point to where blessings from God may stop! There are reasons why He would do this. There were two cities, in the Bible, which God destroyed because of sin, and the main sin, now think about this people, was homosexually and worshiping everything from a goat to money, instead of God The Father. This is where the Ten Commandments come in; they are the LAW, that all others were founded upon. How many of you, adults, could recite them from memory, or have taught your children to do the same thing? RELIGION IS LAW AND LAW IS RELIGION. Think on that one for awhile.
Frank L. Kish, Jr
Chatter 2
This is my opinion of our so called “olice department”in Clay County. I’ originally from Lizemores, where I still have a place which I rented in June of this year. I lived there all of my 44 years on this earth until last year when I moved to Bomont.
To make a long story short, in March of 2003 our garage was broken into and things taken. I was at work in Charleston, so my husband called the police. Two hours later when I got off work I called the police; when I got home an hour later I called back; another hour goes by and our so called State Police, which I use very loosely, shows up. He fingerprints, but nothing is ever done; hadn’ heard anything.
This year, in January 2004, my place was broken into again. Nobody is living there but I still have electric and propane heaters to keep the pipes from freezing. My big propane heater was stolen. I call the “olice”again, but they’e really busy since it’ snowing, so they won’ come out. The cop on duty takes the report over the phone. I tried to do something about that at the time, but couldn’ get any satisfaction, so I let it go.
Everything is going well, and a couple decide they want to buy my place, but they need a little time to save the down payment. I let them move in because I trust them. On Monday, October 11, the girl calls and tells me that she doesn’ know if they’e going to buy it because of the surrounding neighbors. Thursday, October 14, she calls back and says they’e not buying it because someone broke in and stole a lot of their stuff. They called the “olice,”who, after several hours, came out and didn’ do squat. They didn’ take fingerprints or anything.
In my opinion the “olice”and crooks are working together when nothing is ever done when crimes are reported. I think it’ time someone did something about it.
Shelia Jones, Bomont
BLOWS YOUR MIND STRIKES BACK
DON GREENE WV RADICAL
The money we are spending in Bush's wars truly blows your mind. $150 million for fighting in Iraq, with another $50 million in other costs, $1.2 billion in aid to Afghanistan, $40 million to the "good" political parties of Afghanistan, $200 million for the election in Afghanistan, plus another $25 million to equip our "allies." Deep inside we know that all that money would be better spent here, improving our roads, water, sewer, schools and such don't we folks? I've read that Bush is "sincere in his beliefs." So were the flat-Earth folks, but being sincere doesn't make you right does it friends?
I wish John Edwards had asked Cheney exactly what his "other priorities" were that made him dodge the draft. As the truth about our wars and such comes forth, it is getting to the point where the question is, "Who are you going to believe, Bush or your lying eyes?" How sad it all is for the U.S. and the world. I don't use a lot of quotes but this one needs to be written:
"Come and take a walk with me through
this green and growing land.
Walk through the valleys and the
mountains and the sand.
Walk through the rivers and walk through the plains.
Walk in the sun and walk in the rain.
For here is a land full of power and glory,
Beauty that words cannot describe.
But we're only as Free as the Strength of our Freedoms
Only as tall as we stand."
From one of my favorite protest songs, by Phil Ochs.
That's what I want you to do friends, take a walk with me on Election Day, stand tall with me on the most important day of our lives. We have to vote out the man that is bringing America to her knees. Vote out the man that has brought shame to America. Vote out the man that has lied again and again to America and the world. Vote out the man that has crippled our economy for the sake of his corporate cronies. Vote out the man that has turned ninety percent of the world against us. Vote out the man that has turned what was a miserable but helpless dictatorship into “errorist Central.” Vote out the man that has cost us over a thousand lives and crippled thousands of others. Vote out the man that rewards his corporate cronies for taking our jobs overseas. Vote out the man that has expanded the government like no one before. Vote out the man that is stealing our freedoms day by day. Vote out the man that has made us more dependent on foreign nations than ever before. Vote out the man that has failed to make this nation one bit safer. Vote out the man that has chosen to pit "our" God against "their" God.
That's it for me folks, get out and vote for your lives depend on it.
SHORT SHORTS
In the final days leading up to the general election, how about some facts first. Clay County has 6957 registered voters. There are a little over 10,400 residents in the county. Doesn’ nearly 7000 voters sound high for such a small county? It is. Many people signed up as a simple way of getting positive ID for driver’ license, gun permits, and new 911 addresses.
The breakdown is 5178 Demorats, 1341 Republicats, 432 Independents, 2 on the Mountain party, and 4 “thers” In 2000, the breakdown was : 5124 Demorats, 1247 Republicats, 356 Independents, 3 Libertarians, and 1 “ther” In the way of participation, in the last election, Clayberry had the worst voter turn out rate in the state. Most of the newbees will never make it to the polling places.
As of press time, over 700 Clayonians have voted early. An additional 100 absentee ballots have been mailed out. During the last election, only 500 came in before time and cast their votes. With early voting available thru Saturday Oct 30th at 5pm, it is expected that nearly 1000 or almost 1/3 of those expected to vote, will use the convenience. With only 3600 total voters expected to turn out Nov 2nd, earlier campaigning tactics may be mandated in ‘6.
$21,872.00 has been budgeted for the 2004 election year by the County Commission.
As for this election night, expect a long wait for the results. If you’e coming to the Courthouse to watch all the ballot counting, bring a pillow and blanket with you. Here’ why. Even with a high dollar vote counter, any ballots that have write in candidates marked, has to be hand counted and then entered into the machine. Once the poll workers bring in the big blue metal ballot boxes, the Courthouse election workers have to check each one for write in marks. All ballots with a write in will be stacked, counted, and then entered into the count.
There is always talk of problem poll workers. With the use of the optical ballot counter, the days of changing or post marking ballots is gone. The precinct workers don’ even have a key for the boxes. They are only opened upon arrival at the Courthouse after polls close.
This is year some have raised concerns over write in candidate ballots not getting counted. That’ just not the case in 2004. Much of that speculation is brought up as an election ploy to sway voters to a straight ticket mark. According to some figures, less than 20% of the voters use a a “straight ticket”mark without crossing party lines at least once. Old line politicos have advanced the notion , if you mark a straight ticket and then switch over to another party’ candidate or a write in choice, the ballot will be discarded. Wrong O. Write Ins will be counted as well as the other party choices.
Not much has been said about the Nov 2nd Special Levy. The excess Levy if passed will support our three fire departments and the ambulance service. During public meetings and around the region, many are concerned that having the often in the news and troubled ambulance service on the initiative could kill the total package. Signs, bumper stickers, and lapel buttons appear to have influenced few. Much of the Southern end of the county appear ready to vote against the plan. Most in the county support the volunteer fire departments but the ambulance service appears to be a different matter.
The resistance to support the “aid”group is based on years of inept management practices while under the old Ambulance Authority. Under that leadership, a Glady Lanham built up $225,000 surplus was gutted and the service was drilled into debt $100,000. Commissioner Sams insisted that there would be no Levy attempt unless the ambulance service was included in the package.
In local elections, there are contests in only two offices, Clay County Sheriff and County Commission. Sheriff Fields is out of office Dec 31st after serving the max, 8 years. Commissioner Bragg tried unsuccessfully for the Sheriff spot in May and failed miserably. Since then, Bragg has been seen little in the county except to pick up his payday for non performance.
In the race for Sheriff: Randy Holcomb, Dave Mullins, Jim Paxton, and Butch Gray are seeking the $37,000 + spot. That’ three Demorat choices and one Republicat, Dave Mullins. How’ that happen? Paxton and Gray are write in candidates.
For County Commission, Andy Waddell on the Mountain party and Fran King (D) are on the ballot. Denise Taylor is the write in choice. During the first ever for the county live radio debates ( see below) Waddell explained the Mountain Party as the group people go to when they are sick and tired of both main stream parties and their “rap”
Something new happened during this General Election.
The newly on the air non profit community based radio station WYAP-LP, 101.7 FM held live, unrehearsed debates. There goal was to inform voters before going to the polls. During the County Commission and Sheriff debates, in addition to those listening on the internet and the FM dial, many cars and voters gathered in Go Mart ( just across the street from the station) and in the parking lots to listen and chat.
Candidate wise, Fran King , Dave Mullins, and Randy Holcomb were no shows. After first saying she would participate, Ms King decided she was too busy. When asked if there was ANY time available for such, King said there was a 99% chance she couldn’ EVER fit it in her schedule. Randy Holcomb said he could use his time better elsewhere. Dave Mullins bailed out of the debate process not because of time or scheduling issues but because, “If Randy isn’ coming, I’ not coming.” Seems the King, Holcomb, Mullins trio didn’ see the importance of letting the public know their positions before voters mark their ballots. Maybe for those three, limiting their public exposure was a good thing.
A third debate at 7pm on Oct 30th is calendared to include local voters in a round robin discussion focusing on national and local topics.
Around the county signs have sprung up everywhere. Hardly a tree of stump can be found that isn’ adorned with Vote For Somebody signs.
Even with moderate temperatures expected, light voter turn out is the norm. In Clayberry, as long as that monthly check keeps comin’little else matters. In our county of 4 to 1 Demorat to Republicat ratio, a lower turn out often helps the Republicat candidates.
For those interested in politics, the tradition is to hang around the courthouse, listen to election results and watch the defeated one sulk and cry. If you want to miss out on the tears, those results can be heard “ive”on 101.7 FM. Listen in and beat the crowds too! AW
ELECTION 2004
Right Around the Corner
In the final days leading up to the general election, how about some facts first. Clay County has 6957 registered voters. There are a little over 10,400 residents in the county. Doesn’ nearly 7000 voters sound high for such a small county? It is. Many people signed up as a simple way of getting positive ID for driver’ license, gun permits, and new 911 addresses.
The breakdown is 5178 Demorats, 1341 Republicats, 432 Independents, 2 on the Mountain party, and 4 “thers” In 2000, the breakdown was : 5124 Demorats, 1247 Republicats, 356 Independents, 3 Libertarians, and 1 “ther” In the way of participation, in the last election, Clayberry had the worst voter turn out rate in the state. Most of the newbees will never make it to the polling places.
As of press time, over 700 Clayonians have voted early. An additional 100 absentee ballots have been mailed out. During the last election, only 500 came in before time and cast their votes. With early voting available thru Saturday Oct 30th at 5pm, it is expected that nearly 1000 or almost 1/3 of those expected to vote, will use the convenience. With only 3600 total voters expected to turn out Nov 2nd, earlier campaigning tactics may be mandated in ‘6.
$21,872.00 has been budgeted for the 2004 election year by the County Commission.
As for this election night, expect a long wait for the results. If you’e coming to the Courthouse to watch all the ballot counting, bring a pillow and blanket with you. Here’ why. Even with a high dollar vote counter, any ballots that have write in candidates marked, has to be hand counted and then entered into the machine. Once the poll workers bring in the big blue metal ballot boxes, the Courthouse election workers have to check each one for write in marks. All ballots with a write in will be stacked, counted, and then entered into the count.
There is always talk of problem poll workers. With the use of the optical ballot counter, the days of changing or post marking ballots is gone. The precinct workers don’ even have a key for the boxes. They are only opened upon arrival at the Courthouse after polls close.
This is year some have raised concerns over write in candidate ballots not getting counted. That’ just not the case in 2004. Much of that speculation is brought up as an election ploy to sway voters to a straight ticket mark. According to some figures, less than 20% of the voters use a a “straight ticket”mark without crossing party lines at least once. Old line politicos have advanced the notion , if you mark a straight ticket and then switch over to another party’ candidate or a write in choice, the ballot will be discarded. Wrong O. Write Ins will be counted as well as the other party choices.
Not much has been said about the Nov 2nd Special Levy. The excess Levy if passed will support our three fire departments and the ambulance service. During public meetings and around the region, many are concerned that having the often in the news and troubled ambulance service on the initiative could kill the total package. Signs, bumper stickers, and lapel buttons appear to have influenced few. Much of the Southern end of the county appear ready to vote against the plan. Most in the county support the volunteer fire departments but the ambulance service appears to be a different matter.
The resistance to support the “aid”group is based on years of inept management practices while under the old Ambulance Authority. Under that leadership, a Glady Lanham built up $225,000 surplus was gutted and the service was drilled into debt $100,000. Commissioner Sams insisted that there would be no Levy attempt unless the ambulance service was included in the package.
In local elections, there are contests in only two offices, Clay County Sheriff and County Commission. Sheriff Fields is out of office Dec 31st after serving the max, 8 years. Commissioner Bragg tried unsuccessfully for the Sheriff spot in May and failed miserably. Since then, Bragg has been seen little in the county except to pick up his payday for non performance.
In the race for Sheriff: Randy Holcomb, Dave Mullins, Jim Paxton, and Butch Gray are seeking the $37,000 + spot. That’ three Demorat choices and one Republicat, Dave Mullins. How’ that happen? Paxton and Gray are write in candidates.
For County Commission, Andy Waddell on the Mountain party and Fran King (D) are on the ballot. Denise Taylor is the write in choice. During the first ever for the county live radio debates ( see below) Waddell explained the Mountain Party as the group people go to when they are sick and tired of both main stream parties and their “rap”
Something new happened during this General Election.
The newly on the air non profit community based radio station WYAP-LP, 101.7 FM held live, unrehearsed debates. There goal was to inform voters before going to the polls. During the County Commission and Sheriff debates, in addition to those listening on the internet and the FM dial, many cars and voters gathered in Go Mart ( just across the street from the station) and in the parking lots to listen and chat.
Candidate wise, Fran King , Dave Mullins, and Randy Holcomb were no shows. After first saying she would participate, Ms King decided she was too busy. When asked if there was ANY time available for such, King said there was a 99% chance she couldn’ EVER fit it in her schedule. Randy Holcomb said he could use his time better elsewhere. Dave Mullins bailed out of the debate process not because of time or scheduling issues but because, “If Randy isn’ coming, I’ not coming.” Seems the King, Holcomb, Mullins trio didn’ see the importance of letting the public know their positions before voters mark their ballots. Maybe for those three, limiting their public exposure was a good thing.
A third debate at 7pm on Oct 30th is calendared to include local voters in a round robin discussion focusing on national and local topics.
Around the county signs have sprung up everywhere. Hardly a tree of stump can be found that isn’ adorned with Vote For Somebody signs.
Even with moderate temperatures expected, light voter turn out is the norm. In Clayberry, as long as that monthly check keeps comin’little else matters. In our county of 4 to 1 Demorat to Republicat ratio, a lower turn out often helps the Republicat candidates.
For those interested in politics, the tradition is to hang around the courthouse, listen to election results and watch the defeated one sulk and cry. If you want to miss out on the tears, those results can be heard “ive”on 101.7 FM. Listen in and beat the crowds too! AW
SABER RATTLING ACLU Demand Letter
Our front page, above the fold, lead this time centers around Commissioner Sams posting of the 10 Commandments in the Courthouse during his election year bid for office in 2000. Since then, on several occasions, locals have warned that someday, Sams’actions may entangle the county in a lawsuit. With the receipt of the ACLU demand letter printed in it’ entirety below, it appears that day may be near.
October 6, 2004
Peter Triplett, President
Clay County Commission
Clay County Courthouse
P.O. Box 190
Clay, WV 25043
Dear President Triplett:
The American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia has received a complaint that a reproduction of the Ten Commandments is prominently displayed on the wall of the Commission’ meeting room in the Clay County Courthouse in violation of the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution.
The complainant is a non-Christian who feels unwelcome in a governmental environment that endorses a particular religion and who is offended that the County has chosen to single out and sanction any religion. The complainant wishes to attend meetings of the Commission and other groups that convene in the room without being faced with a religious display. In a free country, no one should be made to feel that he or she has preferred standing before the government on the basis of belonging to the “avored”religion. Conversely, no one should be made to feel like an outsider on account of religious belief or lack thereof.
In Clay County, the Commandments were posted alone in the Commission’ meeting room for some time before other documents were hung alongside them, apparently after citizens who objected to the display threatened litigation. The Commission appears to believe that placing reproductions of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence on either side of the Ten Commandments will transform an unconstitutional establishment of religion into a constitutional secular display. Belatedly hanging “ecular”documents alongside the Commandments is not enough to render the display secular, nor does averring that the display is “ecular”or “istoric”make it so.
In Stone v. Graham, the Supreme Court struck down a statute requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in Kentucky schoolrooms. Stating that “t]he Ten Commandments are undeniably a sacred text in the Jewish and Christian faiths and no legislative recitation of a supposed secular purpose can blind us to that fact,”the Court went on to
Peter Triplett, President
Page 2
October 6, 2004
point out that “he first part of the Commandments concerns the religious duties of believers: worshipping the Lord God alone, avoiding idolatry, not using the Lord’ name in vain, and observing the Sabbath Day.” 449 U.S. 39, 42, 101 S. Ct. 192, 194 (1980).
The Stone Court further stated that “n ‘vowed’secular purpose is not sufficient to avoid conflict with the First Amendment.”Id. at 41,193-194. In Books v. City of Elkhart, the court opined that “t] he City’ resolution, issued on the eve of this litigation and proclaiming a secular purpose for the monument’ presence by recognizing the historical and cultural significance of the Ten Commandments, ought to be accorded no more weight than the avowed secular legislative purpose articulated by the Kentucky legislature in Stone.” 235 F.3d 292, 304 (7th Cir. 2000). The court in American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky v. McCreary County, similarly averred “t]hat the display originally consisted solely of the Ten Commandments and that it was altered—albeit without any legally significant change—only after this lawsuit was filed weigh heavily against the finding of a secular purpose.”96 F.Supp.2d 679, 687 (2000).
Clay County’ display, featuring the Ten Commandments centrally displayed behind the Commissioners’seats on the dais and flanked by later-added renditions of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, falls within the scope of the decisions in the cases referred to above: a clearly religious document that government has attempted to portray as secular.
The right to be free from governmental establishment of religion flows from the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Governmental entities that ignore the First Amendment rights of citizens may be sued under a federal law, 42 U.S.C. 1983, prohibiting state actors from infringing federal constitutional rights. If liable, defendants can face injunction and be ordered to pay damages, costs, and attorneys’fees.
We trust that the Clay County Commission will respect the right of all Clay County residents to be present at civic events without being made to feel like outsiders as a result of the perception that the Commission is endorsing a particular religious viewpoint.
Please advise us within 10 business days whether you will agree to cease this unlawful practice, or whether we must seek to enforce residents’rights to religious freedom through formal judicial means. Thank you for your cooperation.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Terri S. Baur
Staff Attorney
Fuming Letter from Chair
Response from Roane Commissioner
During the October Clay Roane PSD meeting, strong words were tossed about over the comments made by a Roane County Commissioner in attendance. PSD Chair Melissa Postelwait, as well as others, chimed in that Roane County Commissioner Rodney Cox was against Roane County receiving water service and was openly working against the Amma/ Left Hand project. Those comments came after Cox had left the meeting Oct. 14, 2004. Since then Chair Postelwait fired off the following letter.
October 20, 2004
Judith Fouty, President
Roane County Commission
County Courthouse
PO BOX 69
Spencer, WV 25276
Dear Commissioner Fouty,
I would like to start by saying that this letter is from me as an individual and does not have anything to do with Clay-Roane Public Service District or the Board Members of Clay-Roane Public Service District. This letter is of my own personal opinion and thoughts and does not reflect the opinions and thoughts of the Clay-Roane Public Service District Board Members or employees.
With that being said, I would like to express my personal concern over the behavior of your fellow Commissioner, Mr. Rodney Cox. Mr. Cox often attends meetings of Clay-Roane Public Service District as a representative and informant for the Roane County Commission and his constituents in Roane County. Mr. Cox is often rude in his comments towards the board, one such incidence was the last meeting on October 14, 2004, the board was discussing having a County Commissioner from either Roane or Clay, attend with them a meeting with Governor Bob Wise to try to obtain emergency funds to pay for emergency repairs that need completed. When asked, Mr. Cox stated that we needed to find another Commissioner because he voted nay in the motion for Clay-Roane to receive funds to replace a raw water pump and he made it quite clear that he was not willing to help the district. It is my belief that Mr. Cox made his vote public to gain the attention of the local press attending the meeting and in fact Mr. Cox in my opinion gave the image that the Roane County Commission was not interested in seeing that their constituents had safe potable water from Clay-Roane Public Service District.
Clay-Roane Public Service District has in my opinion tried very hard over the last few years to become a competent district financially. In fact, they have managed to come back out of the red into the black without a rate increase for the Clay and Roane county customers. Also in my opinion, it would do the Clay and Roane County Commission good to stay informed and participate with their local public service districts and not try to deface them in public. As with such, any emergency that may arise that affects the constituents of said counties, should be an issue with the County Commission.
Also of concern to me is the competency of Mr. Cox when it comes to the Roane County appointee, Susan Beard on the Clay-Roane Public Service District Board. Mr. Cox has attended several meetings since Ms. Beard has been appointed and not once has he mentioned that she has not been sworn in yet.
Mr. Cox as a Commissioner and representative of Roane County, should be informed on his own appointees and should have informed Ms. Beard or the Clay-Roane Public Service District that Ms. Beard needed to be sworn into office. It is my belief that Mr. Cox did not know that Ms. Beard had not been sworn in and that is why he failed to mention it. Therefore that gives me the impression that he merely attends the meeting for publicity and not out of care or concern for the representation of Roane County on the board. This also begs me to ask the question, does he pay attention at the Commission meetings?
As you can tell I have some real issues with Mr. Cox and his attitude towards Clay-Roane Public Service District. In my opinion Mr. Cox only attended meetings with false care when he was seeking election to the Roane County Commission.
I would urge you or Mr. Lance to attend the meetings on behalf of Roane County. I would also ask you to urge Mr. Cox to quit trying to belittle the members of the Clay-Roane Public Service District just because he does not depend on them for votes. This not only looks bad on Mr. Cox it looks bad on the entire Roane County Commission. In my opinion all parties should work together to get safe and potable water in Clay and Roane counties. It should not matter who voted yes or no, if the motion is passed then it should be upheld by all board members. I sincerely appreciate your time.
Sincerely, Melissa Postelwait
Pretty juicy? In response Commissioner Cox fired his own volley right back at the often troubled Clay Roane PSD. Here’ what Mr. Cox returned.
October 25, 2004
Ms. Postelwait,
Thank you for your concern over my intentions and hopes for the Clay-Roane PSD.
As was stated in the Clay-Roane PSD meeting on October 14th, I did not vote in favor of the Roane County Commission supporting you financially in the replacement of the raw water pump. There are several reasons for my position.
First, the Clay-Roane Board of Directors has failed to plan for any contingencies that may arise in the operation of the Public Service District. The lack of planning and budgeting is an ongoing problem for the District, one that must be addressed immediately. If not this type of situation will continue to occur.
Second, the Roane County Commission is the representative of all the citizens of Roane County. There are other PSD’ that serve other areas of the county that face similar situations. Walton PSD recently had a large leak that cost them several thousand dollars to fix. How did they handle that financial difficulty? They tightened their spending and managed to pay for the repair over a short period of time. They then returned to their normal operations.
Finally, I represent the interests of my constituents in the southeastern portion of Roane County. They are disillusioned with the poor management of the Clay-Roane PSD. Boil water advisories, low water pressure and poor water quality are things they have grown accustomed to when dealing with Clay-Roane PSD.
The question of the swearing in of Ms. Susan Beard as a board member was an oversight on the part of the Roane County Commission and the Clay-Roane PSD. My only concern regarding that situation is the delay of the Amma-Left Hand water project. I am working to resolve this situation as soon as possible.
You question whether I would want safe, potable water for the citizens of Roane County? Of course, that is the goal for any public servant and should be the goal of the Clay-Roane PSD. However, without prudent management, planning and disciplined spending, it will be a difficult goal to achieve.
I will assist the PSD in any way possible to achieve this goal. However, I am charged with spending Roane County tax dollars in the most responsible manner possible.
Once again, thank you for your concern and if you have any questions feel free to contact me directly.
Rodney D. Cox
BOB CLARKE Curmudgeon’ Corner
One of the eternal questions people are called upon to ask themselves is: how would I behave in a time of extreme stress? What would I do? These potential times of trial are moments that arrive for all of us, but more significantly to those who consider themselves leaders, real or potential. Here is a passage illustrating the behavior of one somewhat well-known public figure on the most recent date “o live in infamy”9/11.
….After leaving the Capitol on that terrible day, Kerry walked across the street to his office in the Russell Senate Building, where he made sure his staff had been evacuated and was safe. Reluctant to leave Capitol Hill, he watched TV coverage in his office and saw the second tower fall. He called his oldest daughter, Alexandra, who was living in New York, and his wife, Teresa, who was in Washington. Those who saw Kerry that morning recall mainly that he was furious, an emotion, those close to him say, that comes easily to him in times of trial. He thought it was a mistake to shut down the Capitol, to show terrorists that they had the power to send the U.S. government into hiding.
This necessarily long excerpt is from a lengthy study by Matt Bai in the Sunday New York Times. Here, the inevitable mental association process goes into action: hmm…isn’ the Times a liberal paper? It must be so, because every right wing pundit has said it thousands of times. This is a process that the hardliners have raised to a fine art. Constant repetition becomes received/perceived truth. The charge can be easily dismissed if one takes the trouble to go through a list of the Times’ contributors, a complete one, that is.
A reasonable assessment of John Kerry’ behavior at a moment of national trauma seems acceptable here. His first apparent thought and more importantly action was to ensure the safety of his staff. He did not immediately flee what must have been considered an inevitable momentary target. His behavior suggests (dare we say?) leadership.
It may be that Americans actually live in what essayist Gore Vidal calls the “nited States of Amnesia.” Bush’ curious behavior on the day of the attacks seems to have been forgotten, glossed over, or swept under the carpet. His actions on that day give little evidence of the man who calls himself a :war president.” The striking film record shows Dubya reading a story to children when an aide whispers in his ear that the nation is under attack. What follows is an infamous, frozen seven minutes. He does not react in a manner most would consider normal, such as leave the room to make further inquiries, or issue crisp commander-in-chief orders. He just sits there, his eyes darting about weirdly. He seems catatonic. Who is to say what is normal under such dire circumstances? When the subject is broached, Bush’ loyal courtiers go into action. He was either meditating, praying, or weighing the proper coarse to follow. Other apologists maintain that the President didn’ want to alarm the children by leaving the room abruptly. “y Pet Goat,”or whatever that title may be, takes momentary precedence over a national emergency.
And then we have our fearless leader’ actions after leaving the school. He is flown to three separate “afe”locations. The administration spin is that the presidential plane was presumably targeted by the terrorists. If this had been so, would it not have been prudent to have our president put on a plane that does not have “ir Force #1”plastered on it? No doubt the Secret Service insisted on Bush’ removal from potential danger, but it is tempting to draw a contrast with the British royals in World War II. At the height of the London blitz, the famous Battle of Britain, they insisted upon remaining in Buckingham Palace. The English people loved them for it. George W. comes to Ground Zero when safety is relatively assured, and delivers a thunderous war cry reminiscent of Henry V’ “mitate the action of a tiger”speech. Meanwhile, the old tiger, Dick Cheney, without whose counsel the republic would fall, is securely ensconced in a secret bunker.
Speaking of Ground Zero, at the Republican Convention Rudy Guiliani delivered a line that gives pandering a bad name. He claimed that when he stood amidst the still smoldering rubble of the Twin Towers his first thought was: “hank God George W. Bush is president!”– wonderful presidential campaign stuff, that. Rudy even claims to have said it aloud. The trouble is, there appears no evidence of such a statement. It must be remembered, however, that rumors abound to the effect that Guiliani has his eye on the White House in 2008. He knows a good career move when he sees one. However, it must be mentioned in the former mayor’ defense that he had the grace and compassion to attend numerous funerals after the attack, many of victims he did not know personally. Conversely, there is no report of Dubya’ presence at a single ceremony honoring our military dead. The debates showed that he is not programmed for the unpleasant.
We seem to be in another ones of those “emembrance of things past”moments. The hardliners are even now beginning to beat the drums of war. Iran seems to loom as the next threat, as the administration once again raises the specter of WMDs. In this case, the claims may have a certain validity, but a small problem arises. It is a known fact that we haven’ enough troops on the ground to control Iraq, the arrogant idiot Don Rumsfeld not withstanding. Our military components are too thinly spread around the globe. Even Bush must be aware of this problem. The only solution is a draft. “reposterous,”you may think. Such a proposal before November 2 would be a political death wish. Both candidates know this. But George W. has publicly dismissed the importance of history, at least as regards his legacy, hence, should he be re-elected he has little to lose. If he gets a second term, it’ hello Tehran!
They Said It
The Iraqi people long to be free. They just don’ know it yet.
– Bill Maher
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