Letters to the editor: 02/14/02

Until society makes changes, junkyards will be a fact of life

To the Editor:

It reminds me of all the other things I view, like our air pollution problems and the litter strewn about the highways. Need I mention the future landfill coming to our lovely Jackson County, which will hold not only our own trash, but Macon county's trash as well. I am sure we will see letters saying "I don't want that landfill in my backyard."

What you never hear people say is things like "I am going to stop driving, because all these old cars will have to go somewhere and there is no good place for them to go." Or how about "I don't think I will drive because of all the air pollution these vehicles put out. Cars are bad for all living things."

Humans are the same everywhere. All they want to see is the flowers and not the manure that makes them grow. I see the future: It is full of cars and trash because we are not doing anything to reduce the problems.

We complain about the problems and build fences to hide the problems, but the cars are still being built and the trash keeps coming. I do believe these problems are more evident here because of the tight mountain terrain. I believe we will have a hard time finding a place that doesn't have a stream nearby or a place large enough for a junkyard or landfill that won't offend anyone.

Take a moment to think how many cars you see everywhere you go. Some are old, some new. Try to imagine the world in 20 years or even five years. Where will all the cars go? Tires, brakes, anti-freeze, air conditioning, oil, gas, rubber, plastic, steel, glass, etc... It is not going to break down easily.

I don't believe junkyards should be exempt from environmental standards, but if nothing changes in this culture we all share, junkyards will be a fact of life, like it or not. There is only so much land to put things on, and in the mountains there is less usable land than in the lowlands.

Every day new vehicles are made to last longer, with more plastics and substances that resist decay. New products come out daily replacing old ones, and we all know products you buy at the local "superstore" are not made to last much longer than a year or two at best, thus increasing our landfills.

Basically, if you drive a car or if you ride in a car, you are the problem, not the junkyard.

Kelly Timco

Sylva

Childress family will be missed

To the Editor:

The station has played a tremendous part in the evolution of business and community in the area over the last 40 years. I remember Ronnie Childress's "4 o'clock Rock 'n' Roll Show" when he was just a kid himself. It was such a sad day when he died suddenly, but soon Tony became his own radio personality adding to the family tradition.

Behind any good man is an even better woman, and behind the scenes to many Mickie Childress was always an integral part of WRGC.

Personally, during my 20 years as owner of David's Stores and Boo Boo's Outlets in Sylva, WRGC was always there for me. All I had to do was call the station, and within minutes someone was at one of my stores to pick up ad copy or set up the trusty tape player for a "snow sale" improvised ad.

Certainly more important than that, no matter what the weather, the Childress family was on the air before daylight, helping those tuned in as to road conditions, school, church and plant closings, as well as Western Carolina University and Sylva-Webster (Smoky Mountain) sports coverage. This, in addition to hundreds of fund-raisers and events of area interest, to which WMSJ and then WRGC was always there.

In smaller communities, the radio is not only a business, but also an integral part of the fabric of the citizens themselves, and to that we all should wish the Childresses the very best and give them an enormous thanks for their many decades of contributions.

David Schulman

Asheville

Lawsuit will not help problem at Blue Ridge

To the Editor:

I was outraged to read the article "Teen's mother files suit in Blue Ridge sex scandal" (Feb. 7). I feel that the comments made in that article were absurd. Stating that 18-year-old Jeremy Stewart (one of six named defendants in the suit) is "accused of sexual assault and battery against Smith's daughter" is outrageous.

Sex education is taught at Blue Ridge from elementary school up until high school. I know this because I attended Blue Ridge School from fourth grade until my graduation in 2000.

Stating that "Smith's daughter was deprived of her civil rights as a female" may be true, but as a freshman in high school, making decisions is a personal choice. God made humans different from animals by giving them the right to choose. I will admit that pressure was placed upon the defendant's daughter and everyone else involved in the sex scandal.

I was Stewart's girlfriend from January 2001 up until this information was released in June 2001. Even though I was not aware of the acts taking place, I knew something was wrong.

I will say Joe Brooks and Robbie Hess (two of six named defendants in the suit) should have been severely punished. If people are so worried about the safety of the children attending Blue Ridge, then why take money away from the school board? Let that money be used to improve the safety at the school and make sure these horrible acts never take place again.

If the Smith family has the right to sue, then shouldn't the family of Stewart and the families of everyone else involved in this event? Do I have the right to sue the Smith family for emotional distress, heartache, and depression placed upon me by the acts of their daughter?

I feel the need to remind the Smith family that Sheriff Cruzan (one of six named defendants in the suit) was the man who helped put Joe Brooks behind bars. Do we look down on him for this?

I don't quite understand how money is going to help Smith's daughter deal with her emotional distress. Would this suit even be happening if no money were involved?

Overall, I am appalled by this and I think the community should take into consideration what exactly we are trying to prove in doing this. To help out the victims in this case, try to put the past behind you and work to move forward. Don't keep bringing the case up by suing.

Tarah Nicholson

Cashiers

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