Letters to the editor: 04/04/02

Cell phone ordinance is a bad law

To the Editor:

At least this will be a famous first for Jackson County. This ordinance proves to the world that the Jackson County Commission is not only greedy for money, but it lacks the common sense needed for commission members.

This should also tell the electors in the coming election not to re-elect any incumbents on the commission. This is the most stupid waste of our county taxes they will have pulled.

On the plus side, this has initiated a few word changes in the law which will prevent the local takeover in the future. This has also made the FCC wonder if Jackson County will now grant licenses to operate TV and broadcast stations in Jackson County.

If this continues, they will have the authority to control and grant permissions for the above to operate. This will result in complete confusion in the field of communications and broadcasting. The cell phone providers will not spend any more funds in Jackson County to improve our dead spots until this ordinance is stricken from the books. We, the public, can die instead of summoning lifesaving help, which cell phones now provide.

If left alone, we would have much better cell phone coverage than we will now have.

Frank Young

Cullowhee

Board member's vote was based on misleading information

To the Editor:

Lots of time was spent by these kids to ensure their part was done. This work was just thrown away when one board member changed her opinion due to misleading information.

This has come as a big disappointment to the kids and their families. Let's not teach these impressionable kids to deceive. Morals, respect, hard work and perseverance do help in the long run. Don't let these kids down.

Dorothy Conner

Dillsboro

Cancelled field trip disappoints students, parents

To the Editor:

I was very disappointed after my son came home and told me about what you had done. We all are supposed to do what's right for our children, to help them in anyway we can to achieve, and to prepare them to succeed in life on their own. Just because some kids can't learn the same way other kids can doesn't mean we have to turn our backs on them.

If that's the way you and others feel, then that means every program that is set up to help others is wrong, and it's not. There are some of us who do care very much what happens to those who need a little help.

After Sept. 11 I thought everyone knew the meaning of helping and caring, not just for yourself or your own, but for others as well. This comment goes to anyone who disagrees with what this program gives our kids.

My son will graduate in May because of what this program has done for him - helping him to learn and wanting him to learn. The key phrase here is "wanting him to learn." And that's exactly what this program has done.

What is wrong with learning hands on? Think about it, everything you have learned wasn't from a book. Learning sinks in better when you're actually doing it, seeing it, touching it or hearing it. You probably even learned it a lot easier. When you experience it, you remember it for life. A lot of schools use this same method and have realized it works. It is an excellent way for children who have difficulties to learn.

Our children are our future. They are not supposed to be picked on, put down and punished for things they can't understand or for not doing as well as another child can. As a school board member, you are supposed to help kids, not make it more difficult than it already is.

We have some wonderful people here who do help in every way possible, like Lynn Dillard, Sharon Fish, Barry Weldin and all the others who have put so much into this program to make it what it is today.

Discovery 2 students have been looking forward to their last trip of the year. These kids have worked hard trying to raise money for this trip, giving up weekends to work in concession stands at Western Carolina University athletic games, selling raffle tickets, etc. Furthermore, they also gave up some of their summer vacation to get their school (The Hub, formerly Scotts Creek School) ready before the start of the new year. They painted, cleaned, moved things, did anything and everything that needed to be done.

Discovery 2 was set up as a hands-on program to benefit children with learning difficulties. We are talking about taking 15 kids, plus chaperones, for 10 days to learn all kinds of different, wonderful things, just like similar trips in the past years. When those kids came back, they talked about the things they learned. And to this day they remember everything they learned, not just the fun they had while learning these important things about our country's proud history.

These kids are learning things every day, including how to deceive people just like you have deceived them. You led all of them - including this year's graduates who have worked so hard to get where they are today - to believe they were going on a trip at the end of the year.

Let's not teach these kids to deceive; let's reinforce morals and respect for one another, as well as the fact that hard work and perseverance does pay off in the long run. The rate of teens dropping out of school is growing higher every year because of a lack of understanding and caring about how some of our children need to learn.

Ali Laird-Large, I bet you haven't taken a moment to talk with any of these kids to see what they have been learning. If you are going to make decisions concerning these kids, may I suggest that a person in your position should be attending student conferences to hear these kids speak in front of people about how this program has helped them achieve in life. How could you make a judgment on this program or any other program without talking to the ones who are most affected?

A concerned and disappointed parent,

Michelle Mackey

Sylva

Production presents positive image

To the Editor:

It was wonderful to experience such a community effort organized by Webster Baptist Church. This Easter passion play compliments the Christmas story "Trail of Light," an interfaith production sponsored by Cullowhee Baptist Church.

I am proud to be part of a community that embraces morals and values with a positive message. I hope both productions become annual traditions.

Thank you to all who worked so hard to present these magnificant gifts to the community. We are blessed by your efforts.

Ray Menze

Cullowhe

From mountains to murals

To the Editor:

Each mountain in the chain that surrounds the county has a name. Each top and each knob has a name. Do you know them? I've been told that you can rush down to The Sylva Herald and buy a map with all these mountains with their names. But could you do it without a map? Could you name one?

Murals would be appropriate in the Mojave Desert or further west in the land of "fruits and nuts." Horned toads, gila monsters, sidewinders and sand do not paint a very pleasing picture.

Visitors to this county (tourists to the money grubbers) do not drive in here to see murals. They come to see the mountains. When you think about it, its no small feat to see these mountains while driving 70 mph. Even though our commissioners don't get it, these visitors will never see a cell tower. The esteemed chairman even used the "M" word (monstrosity) to describe a cell tower.

The mountains are the single largest attraction in this county that is not advertised, but this gentleman donkey seems to think he is in a position to know what visitors are looking for when they visit this mountain wonderland. They are in awe as they view this panorama. Trust me, they are not looking for murals.

From the Philippines to Austell, England, and from Pampa, Texas, to Houston to a man, their eyes roll over what we take for granted. And they are amazed that such a land can exist.

Strange as it may seem to some, we do not need a "make over."

Those who wallow in the past will always have a dim view of the future. Some may be educated beyond their intelligence.

In 1993, as I sat in the graveyard by the graves of my two children, I could hear the roar and grind on the Great Smokies Expressway. I could picture all those visitors who had come for the color show in late October driving 70 and 80 mph in their air-conditioned cars, and it crossed my mind that they may have overlooked something along the way.

Allen Fisher

Sylva

Back to Archive: 04/04/02.