Letters to the editor: 01/30/03

Stolen flags dishearten postmaster, veteran

To the Editor:

I would like to take this opportunity to make a statement about the rise in vandalism and theft in Cullowhee and surrounding areas. It has been very disheartening to me to see a lot of this irresponsibility on parts of people to do the things they do.

Recently at the Cullowhee Post Office, we had a stop sign and its post stolen, and on campus at Western Carolina University some irresponsible individual or individuals filled the collection boxes with snow, damaging some mail.

The most recent theft that bothers this postmaster and military veteran most is the fact that some person would steal the American and POW/MIA flags off of our flag pole. These flags are displayed for all Americans and veterans to show not only the support for our people, but the pride, honor and hope we bestow upon our fallen and missing comrades and their families. I find so much distaste in the fact that someone has very little respect for government property, our veterans and fellow Americans by stealing the symbols of our freedom and hope.

I hate the idea that I should have to take the flags down every day instead of being able to have them lit up brightly every night. I, as an American, enjoy seeing the spot light shining on our flag as I leave work to go home at night. It's always the first thing I look at when I arrive at work and the last thing I look at as I leave in the evening. The flags instill within me the pride and honor of being an American and a veteran, and I'm sure it does the same for the majority of us here in Jackson County.

The flags at Cullowhee were stolen sometime between 6 p.m. on Jan. 22 to around 6 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23. If anyone remembers seeing anyone around the flag pole area at the Cullowhee Post Office during these times, please contact myself or the Jackson County Sheriff's Department. Any information would be appreciated.

Sincerely,

Ron Story

Cullowhee

N.C. must join suit to prevent EPA rule change

To the Editor:

Gov. Mike Easley and Attorney General Roy Cooper should join the nine northeastern states currently suing the EPA for dismantling the New Source Review provision of the Clean Air Act because this decision undermines the N.C. Clean Smokestacks Act.

With much of North Carolina's air pollution originating in other states, the General Assembly intended the Clean Smokestacks Act to serve as an example for other states and the federal government. The impetus for North Carolina's utilities to support the Clean Smokestacks Act was the EPA's lawsuits against utilities in other states for violating the New Source Review.

That incentive has now been removed by EPA's about-face. Unless the governor and attorney general sue to stop EPA from eliminating the New Source Review, upwind neighbors are unlikely to follow our example.

Under the Clean Smokestacks Act, the governor and attorney general shall "use all available resources and means, including... litigation to induce other states and entities... to achieve reductions in emissions of oxides of nitrogen and sulfur dioxide comparable" to North Carolina's.

While the govenor and attorney general have a duty to protect our health and welfare, we as North Carolinians have the responsibility to require them to do so. Tell Gov, Easley and Attorney General Cooper to join the nine northeastern states in their suit against the EPA's New Source Review decision.

Sincerely,

Avram Friedman, Executive Director - Canary Coalition

Harvard Ayers, Chairman - Appalachian Voices

Scott Gollwitzer, Attorney - Appalachian Voices

Hope Taylor, Executive Director - Clean Water for North Carolina

Gov. Mike Easley

20301 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, N.C. 27699-0301

1-800-662-7952 (In N.C. only)

(919) 733-4240

Email: www.govenor.state.nc.us/Contact.asp

Attorney General's Office

N.C. Department of Justice

P.O. Box 629

Raleigh, N.C. 27602-0629

(919) 716-6400

Email: agust@mail.jus.state.nc.us

Back to Archive: 01/30/03.