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Cartoon unfair to president
To the Editor:
In your Dec. 16 issue, you published an editorial cartoon by Mike Thompson accusing the Bush administration of, among other things, responding to criticism by saying, “you’re unpatriotic” and “shutting up critics by questioning their love for America.” I’d be interested if you have any facts to back up either of those claims. Or did you just like Thompson’s cartoon because it gives The Herald yet another opportunity to indirectly slam the president? Considering that you publish no national news, do you really think it’s fair to print these anti-Bush cartoons continually without providing your readers with any context?
As for the charges in Thompson’s cartoon, I look forward to hearing from The Herald’s journalists about the many times where President Bush or members of his staff have accused critics of being unpatriotic. While you’re at it, you might check to see if any of the administration’s critics (Howard Dean and John Kerry come to mind) have accused President Bush or those who support him of being unpatriotic. You might be surprised.
David Luginbuhl
Cullowhee
Invitation to Jamison
To the Editor:
Since Postmaster Mark Jamison, who is not a resident of Webster, has never attended a meeting of the Webster Town Board, we hereby extend a cordial invitation for him to do so.
It appears that he has very serious concerns about the town of Webster, and we would be happy to discuss these issues with him in person.
The board meets the first Thursday of each month at the Town Hall at 7 p.m.
Louise Bedford
Member, Webster town board
Enjoying the arts at WCU
To the Editor:
What a wonderful time to be in Cullowhee.
When we first came here we saw a bumper sticker we thought was very appropriate: “This may not be Heaven, but you can sure see it from here!” We feel like we have gotten even closer to heaven this year.
Just consider the following. Athletics at Western Carolina University have improved over past years. While we cannot expect a year like 1983 in football, at least this was a winning year and we can take some solace in both Furman’s and Appalachian State’s performance in the playoffs. Basketball has become exciting again as the entire team plays as if it matters, as shown in the win over Asheville. It could have a winning year, too. Other WCU teams are showing signs of improvement.
The music department continues to improve, most notably this year in the musical theater program. “Side by Side by Sondheim” and “Godspell” were delightful and showcased the growing cadre of talented performers. The faculty concerts continue to be great, and the “PRISM Concert” was fantastic. The theater program continues to provide first class performances such as “The Compleat History of America (abridged).”
Then the icing was provided by the programs in the new Fine and Performing Arts Center ... both art and music. My favorites were “In the Mood” and the Asheville Symphony directed by our own Bruce Frazier in the innovative review of the music by Bernard Herman that was background to Alfred Hitchcock’s movies. What a season, and it is only half over.
We have enjoyed it greatly. We encourage anyone who has not taken advantage of these offerings to take a close look at the remainder of the season. For those on the Web, see www.wcu.edu, click on “Visitor Center,” then click on “Campus Events Calendar,” then click on either “Art,” “Athletics,” “Entertainment,” or “Musical Events,” to select the calendar you want to see. Otherwise contact any of the above departments to get a printed program. You might find something you would enjoy.
What a beautiful Christmas, Chancellor Bardo.
Fran and Jebby Webster
Sylva
Leave Barkers Creek intersection alone
To the Editor:
I have put off writing this letter as long as I can stand it. When I heard that they were about to mess up another intersection, namely Barkers Creek, I had to give my opinion on these mess-ups.
I live on Cope Creek, and I get mad every time I go through the intersection at the end of Cope Creek. You have to cross two lanes of traffic, make a U-turn, and then cross two more lanes of traffic to get to Scotts Creek Road.
If you want to get back to Cope Creek, you have to enter back into two more lanes, where they will not move over and let you into the lane where you have to drive a half mile, make another U-turn, and enter two more lanes just to get to turn off again.
This makes this intersection 10 times as dangerous as it was.
What’s wrong with red lights?
Jesse Franklin
Sylva
Ridgetops, steep slopes should be protected
To the Editor:
One could easily be distracted from noting “good news” on the contentious and thorny horizons of land use planning. Amidst the current laments over “the End of Eden,” our endless need for visioning processes to seize the day, and finding blame for the lack of progress in “moderating” the ongoing development frenzy – there is some good news from across the border in northeast Georgia, specifically from White County where the towns of Helen and Cleveland are located.
By a 2-1 vote, the white County Commissioners passed a ground-breaking “Mountain-Hillside Protection” ordinance on Nov. 29 before a mostly hostile crowd. The supporting commissioners displayed a level of political courage and leadership that we seldom see in Western North Carolina. This is not to imply that supporters of the ordinance were not present. A core group of White County citizens have been working on such a regulation for years – since 1982. Only Buncombe County has sought to regulate the density of development on hillsides with slopes of more than 30 percent.
The White County ordinance will apply to new construction on about 9 percent of private land that has a slope in excess of 25 percent and correlates to a county “mountain protection map” that shows slopes of about one-and-a-half acres or more. According to one commissioner, “small slopes, like a hill in your back yard, are not included.”
Regulations for ridgetop and steep-slope development are a no-brainer. Over 100 mountainsides across WNC were impacted by Hurricane Ivan in 2004, and 60 percent were attributed to development. Geological evidence exists that confirms such debris flows are not uncommon in these mountains.
The issue of steep-slop development should be a central campaign issue for local elections in 2006, especially at the county level. It offers us a way out of the planning “quagmire,” dithering political leadership and the endless cycle of loosely organized citizens reacting and then disbanding. It offers enough common ground and common sense to reach beyond the “choir.”
As in White County, the need for a disciplined core group of citizens cannot be overestimated. It’s incredibly sobering to realize it took 23 years to establish the political will for such an ordinance in White County. Surely we can do better, now that the “wheel” has been invented.
Roger Turner
Sylva
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