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Local schools better than most in state
To the Editor:
While reading last week’s The Sylva Herald, I noticed letters slamming the local Jackson County Public Schools and felt that the allegations shouldn’t go unchallenged.
The students I have met who have graduated from the Jackson County School System are proficient in calculus, unlike any other school system in this state or the Southeast United States.
They have free professional psychological counseling services available to them in school, unlike almost any other school system in this state.
Their lunchroom food is actually prepared on-site, avoiding the fast-food induced learning disorders (brought up in “Supersize Me”), similarly unlike most school systems in this state.
Jackson County Public Schools also have the highest percentage of certified instructors of any school system in this state.
The requirements may be high and they may be exacting and a bit inflexible, but the results have clearly paid off.
The Jackson County Schools are undeniably doing a better job than almost any school system in this state or other Southeastern states.
Patrick Holleman
Sylva
Knows Ashe isn’t the man in the fliers
To the Editor:
Recently, I have seen fliers that have been distributed on windshields at Wal-Mart and Top Cats containing derogatory statements about Sheriff Jimmy Ashe. I have known Sheriff Ashe and his family for the past 12 years, and I know their family values and the standards by which they live. Based on that knowledge, I take issue with several of the things stated in these fliers.
In one flier the statement was made, “No time for God,” and went on to say that no preachers are allowed into the jail for contact visits. On the contrary, Sheriff Ashe’s priorities are – and have been since I’ve known him – God first, family second and his job third. He presently has chaplains available to the prisoners for spiritual counseling.
In the second flier, the accusation was made that Sheriff Ashe let drug dealers walk right out of jail and that all they had to do was sign their own bail. As most people are aware the judge, not the sheriff, sets bail for a prisoner. If that prisoner is able to put up collateral enough to meet the amount of the bail, the Sheriff’s Office has no choice but to release them. Sheriff Ashe has made a tremendous, constant, concerted effort to address the burgeoning drug problem in Jackson County, the same drug problem that has swept our entire nation.
His fight against crime has been impressive and continues daily, often resulting in his family seeing less of him than they would like. However, he is dedicated to the job to which the citizens of Jackson County elected him, and I believe he has done that job as well as anyone could have possibly done it.
Every person has the right to his or her own opinion and our U.S. Constitution guarantees us freedom of expression. Newspapers provide us an excellent, direct, straightforward forum to exercise that freedom, much more so than distributing fliers at local businesses under the cover of darkness.
I commend Sheriff Ashe for the excellent job he has done in his elected office and sincerely hope that he will be given a chance to continue it for years to come in the future.
Belinda Etters
Bryson City
Vote to preserve mountain heritage
To the Editor:
In recent weeks I have read and appreciated Thomas Crowe’s letters of concern regarding the out-of-control growth of our area. Crowe is accurate in his observations and expresses the concerns of many residents. In the April 6 Sylva Herald, another local resident, Nola Brown, stepped up to the plate echoing many of the same concerns. They are correct. Answers must be found.
The “official” Earth Day is observed in April and for years it has reminded us of the disappearing rain forests, water and air pollution, and more recently the effects of global warming. It is time we call attention to what has happened in our own county. For the sake of being good neighbors and respecting the rights of others, we have silently stood by as our valleys become junkyards and our mountains are scalped. That good-neighbor policy obviously has failed as uncaring locals and greedy developers have taken advantage of our “live-and-let-live” thinking for their personal financial gain. We have let this happen for far too many years.
It is time we join forces and make our voices heard. There are solutions, and one of them is to vote for candidates who will work for us. There must be sensible growth – our heritage is to be enjoyed, not destroyed. Your vote makes a difference. Exercise that right.
Mary Jo Cobb
Tuckasegee
Time to re-elect Cruzan
To the Editor:
It’s finally time to elect a real sheriff.
About three years ago I was jumped and beaten by two men with a water ski while I was fishing at a local lake. The whole right side of my face has been reconstructed with titanium plates and screws, let alone a bill for more than $50,000, a shattered nose, cheek and eye socket.
These two guys not only stole my dignity, they even stole my fishing gear.
This incident has been reported to local authorities. Deputies took a picture and a statement from me while I was hospitalized.
Doing my own follow-up investigation, I was first told “we’re more concerned with the drug activity in our community.” The second time I inquired, I was informed that there was “no report.” The third time I inquired, I was told “you’re not going to get anywhere with this.”
I need justice and closure.
I have also spoken with two other Jackson County residents who have dealt with similar circumstances. I’m just guessing now – if only these particular thugs had been carrying drugs, they would have been arrested and dealt with? Or not.
But if you beat someone into unconsciousness and leave them for dead and steal their belongings, then you’re OK.
Folks, we need a strong sheriff. (Former Sheriff Jim) Cruzan did cruise around and see for himself a lot of the circumstances and dealt with them appropriately.
That’s why I support Cruzan for sheriff.
Remember – more than $50,000 in reconstructive surgery and no report. That’s a sorry Sheriff’s Department.
Randy Marrinan
Sylva
Planning isn’t the enemy
Dear Editor:
In the current campaign for county commissioner, it’s amazing to me what the term “property rights” is interpreted to mean. It seems to be mutually agreed that it means anti-zoning, but I’m afraid it’s also being used to mean anti-planning or anti-any-kind-of-regulation on “my land.” Nothing can be taken at face value.
If there are no limits to what anyone can do with one’s land, what protection do any neighboring property owners have from actions that might ruin the use of their own land? So if you are a “no limits” supporter, are you then against private property rights? Yeah, I guess you are.
Private property rights would be well served with good county planning. When property owners know what obligations they must uphold and know what standards their neighbors must also uphold, they can plan and develop their own property without the worry of a neighboring property owner doing something unexpected. Did the homeowners on Griffin Street have any property rights that protected the use and enjoyment of their homes from the nearly 100-foot drop into what will be the back side of Lowe’s?
While zoning is a very strict land-use tool, it’s not desirable in Jackson County for several reasons. My biggest objection to zoning is how it has been used to segregate land uses, with the result that no one can go anywhere without a car. For most people, the objection is the complaint of telling one what they have to do with their land. “Planning,” on the other hand, should never require a certain land use, but only prescribe how, if used for a land use (of the property owner’s choice), the neighborliness, environment, safety and required infrastructure are taken into account. Planning is needed to help us deal with our inevitable growth in population. Statewide in the 1990s a 10-percent growth in population was accompanied by a 40-percent growth in vehicle miles of travel.
Well over half of all school kids make the home-to-school and school-to-home trip by car. If newcomers continue to perceive that it is more desirable to live as far away from everything as possible – on the far slopes and ridgelines of the county – imagine the vehicle miles required to meet their daily needs as they and we drive to and from work, school, the grocery store, the doctor, restaurants, shopping and ball practice. Does anyone think that enough roads could possibly be built to serve that demand or that taxes would be allowed to increase enough to even try?
Never mind the desecration of the viewshed, the decrease in forested area for the natural conversion of carbon dioxide to oxygen, the taking of wildlife habitat, the draining of water tables, waste going into the ground, sedimentation risk, destabilizing slopes, etc. The more we all try to live in this manner, the less any of us will have what we wanted.
Natives and newcomers mostly agree that Jackson County is a wonderful, beautiful place to live. I don’t expect that it can possibly remain that way if, in the name of “property rights,” commissioners sit on their hands and just let whatever happen.
Mark Jamison hit the nail on the head last week in his letter to the editor: “In the coming election there are candidates who support real property rights. There are also candidates who use the term as a justification for a much different agenda. Take the time to find out the difference.”
Reuben Moore
Cullowhee
Candidate not for sale
Keith Parris, candidate for District 2 commissioner, would like to thank the citizens of Jackson County for their continued support in the form of phone calls and visits in response to the letter to the editor written last week by Thomas Crowe. It has given him the opportunity to discuss some important issues including one not yet mentioned – if elected commissioner, his vote on issues is not for sale.
My husband, Keith, prefers to not be connected with any other candidate, whether they are running for commissioner, sheriff or another office, and intends to remain neutral until he goes to vote. Crowe not only connected his name with others, but accused him of conspiracy.
In 2002, the voters of Jackson County set the precedent for the diversity we see in the 14 commissioner candidates in the current election. That year Brian McMahan, then 27 years old and a county employee, filed for office after resigning from his position. He was unemployed until he found the job he holds today. The voters elected McMahan, a Balsam Mountain Preserve employee with no experience in county government, over other very worthy opponents.
This led others, like (Raymond) Bunn and my husband, to realize that a commissioner does not have to fit into any certain mold to run for office to try and make our county a better place to live.
Most of the 14 commissioners’ candidates are 42 or younger, with varying degrees of education and experience. Many of the candidates are young, but that is no conspiracy either.
McMahan declines to vote on any issues concerning his employer, Balsam Mountain Preserve, and Keith could do the same since his brother-in-law is an employee there.
Keith owns and operates an auto repair business and is honest with customers even if it is not profitable. He has worked hard and struggled with not only the staggering demands of owning a small business, but also the overwhelming operating costs. He has maintained his integrity and does not deserve to be accused of taking money from out-of-state developers in exchange for pulling political strings for them.
Citizens of Jackson County, please stop and think about this for a minute. If Keith were in the pocket of multi-millionaires and doing their bidding, would they not use their money to ensure he be elected?
Of course they would. Where are his billboards, the half-page newspaper ads, the radio ads on various stations and the campaign parties? They are non-existent.
The housing developments with their million-plus homes are becoming more prominent in Jackson County and will probably continue as long as Jackson County land owners continue to sell the corporate developers their large tracts of land. This is something we all need to work on together, and there will be no quick fix. We could encourage land owners to sell their land with stipulations attached, but it’s ultimately their decision. If they don’t, land assessment values will continue to rise, as will property taxes.
My husband and I can sympathize with the taxpayers because we can hardly pay our own taxes now. Keith thinks the county should be more supportive and do more to help the small businesses by at least devising a packet for potential small business owners; the millionaires don’t need any help.
Keith did not think the accusations warranted a response because they were so ludicrous. He knew people would not believe them, but I could not let it go so easily.
Sherry Parris
Balsam
Cowan is best candidate for the job
To the Editor:
The District 3 County Commissioners’ race is among the most hotly contested in the upcoming elections. While there are two fine candidates to consider, only one has the experience to represent the citizens of Jackson County effectively.
Joe Cowan has served tirelessly and with great integrity throughout his current term while not always embracing the popular and politically expedient position. Instead, he thoughtfully and ethically studies each issue and advocates for the position that will best serve the citizens he represents.
Jackson County faces many challenges for the future. The rapid growth we are currently experiencing presents numerous problems and must be addressed sensitively. Cowan has worked unflinchingly to protect property rights for homeowners and pledges to continue doing so.
Growth has contributed to a county debt of almost $60 million. Cowan represents fiscal responsibility and will work toward the reduction of that debt load. His background as an educator enables him to intelligently approach these and other issues facing our county and to find solutions that benefit his constituents.
I urge you to vote for the candidate best qualified to serve our citizens, the candidate with the integrity and courage to speak his mind. Please return Cowan to the county commission.
Carolyn Diamond
Sylva
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