|
County, town law enforcement must help one another
To the Editor:
I was a little disappointed to read the comment town board member Danny Allen made about the Sylva Police Department in last week’s Herald. The comment “if they want to enforce the laws of the county, let them go work for the county” was very unprofessional.
As a police officer at Western Carolina University, I know that most of us are outnumbered and have very limited personnel working in our departments. The mutual aid set-up between surrounding agencies is not designed for us to enforce laws out of a certain jurisdiction, but to provide our fellow officers backup and assistance when needed.
I work graveyard shift, when our agency rarely has more than three officers working at any given time. I know the same shift at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and the Sylva Police Department only has three or four officers working at the same time, so I think I speak for all law enforcement officers when I say that sometimes we need a little help.
If that consists of the Sheriff's Office or the police departments in the county helping each other, then I’m sure the citizens of Jackson County would be more than supportive to see that we are here not only assuring their safety, but our own as well.
I am proud to be a police officer and I’m sure grateful to the law enforcement agencies that are willing to go the extra mile to help out their fellow man. It’s all about keeping each other safe so that we can go home at night, too.
Sgt. Angie McMahan
Sylva
Shield animals from Fourth of July harm
To the Editor:
The peace and calm of these mountains 364 days a year makes our hearing stronger, researchers have proven. Same with our pets.
Please remember that, to our pets, the noise of fireworks is associated with lightning and thunder. Some have even felt the electrical shock through the ground currents and thus have become extremely frightened of any such noises.
Please be especially mindful of shooting fireworks over pastures or fields where livestock might be. I will always be grateful to Dr. Amy Patterson for coming out to our farm after fireworks had been displayed over our horse pasture. She removed a colorful firework particle from the eye of one of my horses.
Enjoy the Fourth as a time to celebrate the freedom of America, but please don’t forget that the pets that we love don’t comprehend the explosions and noises. Please allow them a safe haven somewhere. Under the bed is a favorite spot.
Debra Edwards
Cullowhee
Junkyards are part of mountain heritage
To the Editor:
I am writing in response to Lucinda Babb’s letter, “Another reader is concerned about junkyards,” in last week’s Herald.
I’m so glad Babb has figured out what’s wrong with our mountain people.
With her degrees and “fifty-cent” words, she expressed that she is not proud of her mountain heritage.
Common sense requires no degree.
Using junkyards as a major example, Babb writes of “stereotypical white trash.”
Let’s examine the junkyards on Skyland Drive in Sylva. First is the junkyard formerly owned by the late Howard Gibson. He raised a family and helped many local folks who could not afford dealership or auto parts store prices.
Next is Sylva Salvage, run by my friend Fred. This junkyard has been there for years, operated by several different people (B & B, Steve Bunn and others).
Babb left out a well-known landmark, the Budweiser warehouse.
On we go to Independent Junkyard, formerly operated by the late Homer Taylor. Not too bad a place, considering an $11-million-dollar school was built within sight of it.
Probably most alarming and threatening is the gas tank farm. No mention of that.
I’m a mountain person and proud of my heritage.
If it is so bad here, why are so many people from other areas congregating in Jackson County?
Probably to change us, and to make it like where they came from. As we mountain people have heard for years, “It’s better in Florida,” “It’s cheaper in Florida,” and “We do it this way in Florida.” Does the entire state of Florida not have people living off the welfare system?
At night we enjoy the cool mountain air without bars on our windows and doors.
If you are so ashamed of your county property, sell it to a local person.
The same road you traveled here can certainly take you back.
Maxie Parris
Cullowhee
(Editor’s Note: Parris is an employee of The Sylva Herald. Her opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper.)
|
