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Letters to the editor: 03/22/01

Be a hero; support WalkAmerica 2001

To the Editor:

For more than 60 years the March of Dimes has led the fight to help improve the health of America's children. They have funded research that has led to new treatments for birth defects and other infant health problems. They have supported community programs that get more moms into prenatal care and educate families about having healthy babies.

That is why I am asking our community to participate in the Jackson County WalkAmerica 2001 to be held Saturday, April 21. It will begin at 10 a.m. at the Main Street branch of the First Union Bank.

Thanks to millions of volunteers who support WalkAmerica each year, the March of Dimes has funded significant breakthroughs such as the discovery of vaccines that protect everybody from polio, and the development of regionalized hospital units (NICUs) to care for sick babies.

I was born in Jackson County. My wife, Leslie, and I lived in Jackson County at the time of the birth of our daughter, Chloe, and no matter how far we travel, we always think of Jackson County as our home.

We hope you will join us as Jackson County works toward its WalkAmerica goal of $16,000. During the past five years, through Harris Regional Hospital, Jackson County Department of Public Health, REACH of Jackson County and the Developmental Evaluation Center at WCU, Jackson County received $53,000 in grants from the March of Dimes.

By supporting WalkAmerica, you can be a hero and make a difference. We will be saving babies together. Please call the March of Dimes at (828) 665-4031 for more information. You may also call the chairman, Joe Smith, at Fairview Elementary School, 586-2819.

Sincerely,

Nick Searcy

Honorary Chairman

Jackson County WalkAmerica 2001

'Socialistic' taxes

To the Editor:

House Bill 99, proposed by Reps. Phil Haire of Sylva and Mickey Michaux of Durham, would increase the current sales tax on meals, beverages and rooms. It would also originate a tax on real estate sales and a county income tax.

It is the most socialistic bill that has ever been proposed by any legislator. Their proposal is that this bill would have to be voted into power by the voters, county by county. Once they get the bill enacted, it will be very simple for an amendment to be passed removing the requirement that the voters vote to empower county commissions to put these taxes into power by simple resolution. This bill should not be passed by the Legislature.

Passing this bill will permit the Jackson County Commission to spend $50 to $200 million buying 100 acres of land and building the proposed Heritage Hills development in Jackson County. We cannot afford this dream development. There is no way this can ever pay its own way as a development.

Haire and Michaux have to believe in pots of gold at the end of the rainbow to even propose this law.

Everyone needs to write their legislators and advise them of our feeling about Haire and Michaux attempting to bring North Carolina into socialism by doubling or tripling our taxes.

Frank Young

Cullowhee

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