Letters to the editor: 04/18/02

Committed to a healthy community

To the Editor:

In the last several years the role of the public health educator has changed to one of advocacy for environmental and policy change. What does that mean? It means advocating for fitness facilities, walking trails, flex time for employees to exercise, etc. If you have a supportive environment in which to exercise and be healthy it is easier to make personal changes.

In talking about Haywood County fitness facilities, I have personally heard comments like, "We don't need a fitness facility like Haywood County." But I say why not? I want my community to be healthy. I want my community to have the same advantages as Haywood County. Are they healthier? I don't know, but they are committed to being healthier.

With the rising cost of health care, we should look more at preventive care. Being physically active is one way to prevent most chronic disease, yet we say we can't afford a fitness center. I say we can not afford not to one.

Yes, I know we have a new center in Cullowhee and Jeff Carpenter should be commended. His passion for the last nine years has been the fitness center in Cullowhee. Congratulations, Jeff! But this is just the beginning. I know there are plans to expand the facility.

I am excited to hear about Southwestern Community College's plans for a health and fitness facility which will allow more opportunities for people in our community to stay healthy. I do hope when these partners continue their efforts to make this happen, they will invite public health to the table to be part of that team. The whole community needs to be part of the discussion on how to make our community environmentally supportive to physical activity.

I agree with Lisa that we should expect the very best and we deserve the best.

Jimmi Buell

Health Educator

Jackson County Department of Public Health

Support for Dillsboro dam

To the Editor:

The powerhouse is an impressive timber frame structure with a cheap metal skin on top of a large bulkhead that has been maintained mechanical over the years, but the foundation, siding and roof have deteriorated. The dam, which has served Jackson County well for more than eight decades, has become the neglected stepchild in a family of larger, more profitable dams on the Tuckaseigee River.

The river and its ecology have adapted to the dam's presence. It has also found a place in the hearts of Jackson County residents.

The Dillsboro dam is capable of generating enough income to pay for needed repairs, improving the Tuckaseigee watershed and providing for any of Duke Power's goals for our river. On its own "the little dam that couldn't" generates enough income to raise well over $1,000 a week for improvements. If it was put back on the grid, it could raise even more. In a few months time a positive plan for a self-sufficient regional watershed could be in place by preserving this dam and using it to help finance other needs, including a fish ladder on its side.

This functional and extraordinary building still brings energy to this part of Jackson County, but it has few supporters in the newly-formed Tuckaseigee stakeholders team. This parochial group of agency representatives, rafting business and mostly retired residents from the upper Jackson County lake district has admirably sat through enough meetings to be called actual "stakeholders." They seem to be the working parts of a consensus process to rubber stamp Duke Power's relicensing mitigation requirements. This consensus group has excluded many interested parties who did not have the time and/or resources to get involved in the relicensing process on a continual basis. Consequently, l and many local citizens, businesses and organizations from the mid- and lower Tuckaseigee fell through the cracks as this group was formed.

I was not invited to participate until a month ago, and local officials, citizens and businesses had to be extremely dedicated to be on the the ground floor of this group. There are, of course, many paid consultants who work for Duke Energy on this "stakeholders" team. In the relicensing period there are mandated procedures for planned improvements and public input prior to relicensing.

Nantahala Power's new stepdad, Duke Energy, has profited from lake and river watersheds. These utility corporations have made a lot of money in our neighborhood watershed over the years, and now it's time to improve the lakes, river and "the little dam that couldn't" and keep them in our neighborhoods.

The relicensing process is the time to come up with improvement ideas. Renewable energy? How about renewable infrastructure. Let the Dillsboro dam pay for its own improvements for a while. It needs a real roof, new siding and some shoreline landscaping.

Renewable resource? The Dillsboro dam is a cultural and historic resource for Jackson County akin to the old Sylva train depot that was mistakenly removed in the name of progress.

Enhancing recreation? The river's lake section in Dillsboro backs up almost 3/4 of a mile above the dam, past Crawford Cove Road, halfway to Webster. There would be serious implications on fishing and shoreline integrity if the dam were removed. Since the start of fishing season two weeks ago, I have seen hundreds of trout being pulled out of the river by local and traveling fishermen. Removing the dam would severely threaten its adapted ecology.

What about the sediment behind all these dams? Where will the sediment go? Dilution is not the solution.

Finally, these are energy issues that have economic and environmental implications in our community and nation as we are addressing our policy and dependence on foreign oil and debating oil exploration in Alaska. The Dillsboro Dam - what does it stand for? How about a local renewable resource in need of supporters and a plan to preserve it.

T.J. Walker

Dillsboro

County needs more sidewalks

To the Editor:

What we need in our area is more sidewalks and bike trails. I have some reasons why this should be done.

Biking and walking are wonderful exercise. We all know that one of the many ways to stay happy and healthy is by exercising correctly. Sylva is a beautiful, mountainous area where people can enjoy the fresh air and gorgeous scenery, while exercising and staying healthy at the same time.

Where I live in Webster the only place sidewalks are available is on the main road. You, of course, can walk on those sidewalks, but it's very hard to endure the constant car noises and exhaust fumes.

I would suggest that we set aside a certain portion of our tax dollars for this very important and worthwhile project. We need bike and walking trails.

If we all work together, I'm sure we can make some much needed improvements.

Sincerely,

Morgan Schutters

Age 13

Webster

School system should take credit for positive, negative events

To the Editor:

The first sentence of the article stopped me for an instant. "Local school officials and the county's top law enforcer have asked for the dismissal of a January legal action brought against them by the mother of a teen involved in last year's sex scandal at Blue Ridge School."

As I read the article a few things came to mind, and I can't honestly believe I am the only one who experienced a bit of disbelief after reading the article.

First, let me say that I can't believe Jim Cruzan would know of any past events, suggested or real, and still place an officer in a school and risk the safety of any student. I'm not suggesting that the past events are fact or fiction. I simply can't imagine the sheriff having prior knowledge.

Let's face it, the police officer involved only pleaded guilty to four counts of common law obstructing justice. Where is the child in that statement? If even one time he took or helped to take her off school grounds without her parents' permission, then he is guilty of a bit more than obstruction of justice, I think. There should have been charges of assaulting a minor. How did that come all the way down to obstruction of justice?

What about the school system? I've always been under the impression that the principal, thus the school system, is responsible for what happens in the school. Has this suddenly changed? According to the news reports, some of these events occurred during the school day. If students are taken off school property during the school day by school officials, there is normally documentation explaining why and with whom. If teachers leave during the school day, normally the principal is aware that the teacher will be leaving.

I'm not sure where the breakdown in supervision was in all of this, but there obviously was a breakdown, which resulted in a student being emotionally hurt. How many times have parents congratulated school officials on the good things that happened in the schools? This is praise that every student, faculty and staff member in the school has earned and deserves. However, if the system takes credit for the positive things that happen within a particular school or within the system as a whole, it only seems reasonable that they are also responsible for anything that may seem a bit embarrassing or neglectful as well.

It may seem to many that the Smith family should move forward and leave these events behind them. But may I simply suggest that if it were our child in that position, we may not be so willing to drop it and go forward. The student and her family deserve closure in their own terms. No matter the result of the lawsuit, they have stood behind their daughter and hopefully brought forth issues that may well prevent other students from going through the same trauma their daughter has lived and is living through.

Shelly Sorrell

Schenectady, N.Y.

Student praise for Discovery II

To the Editor:

I will say that Ray Trine did visit the Jackson County alternative learning program known as Discovery II. This one-time visit took place during student testing, so Trine was not able to associate himself with the students. How ironic.

As a student who attends the Discovery II program, I find this appalling -not only these actions, but also some of the words spoken by this man, such as, "no money should be spent on bad kids."

A quick question for every person reading this: How would he know whether or not we are "bad kids" if he isn't willing to visit and spend time with us to see how hard we work and what kind of people we are. I will speak for everyone in the alternative programs based at the HUB when I say that we are not, by any means, "bad kids."

Discovery II began as a grant-funded program. The concept of experiential learning was approved by the state. The people who wrote the grant are associated with Western Carolina University, Jackson County school system, Smoky Mountain Mental Health, Vocational Rehabilitation and the Juvenile Justice system. The grant application was judged in the top 10 percent in North Carolina.

The proposed use of the old Scotts Creek school building was for county administrative offices. Doing this, there would be a cost of at least $1 million for renovation purposes alone. The original plan changed, and it was decided to place alternative learning in the building. There was absolutely no commitment, except to cover the removal of asbestos tiles.

At the HUB, we have no hot water or sewage system. The sewage system is operating from a sand pit. I find that to be really gross. The HUB is apparently dumping raw sewage into Scotts Creek! Because of no available hot water, eating lunch at our school is prohibited. Preparing meals there is not an option. Everyday we board a school bus to travel to the high school for lunches. Along with taking time out of the day to go across town, mileage on the buses has to be paid.

There are two members of the Jackson County School Board who continuously vote "no" without hesitation on requests for experiential learning. One of these two members, James Roper, who has been on the school board at least 8 years, has never visited Jackson County's alternative learning programs.

I find it really dumb that money is being thrown out for just about any other school, except for Jackson County's only named exemplary school for the 2001-02 school year.

Discovery II recently submitted a request for a weeklong expeditionary experience to Washington, D.C. How much more educational can you get when it comes to learning abour our nation's history? The request was denied when Ali-Laird Large changed her vote from a "yes" to a "no," causing it to be denied by a 3-to-2 margin.

She did this after Ray Trine brought up the matter of expenses for this trip, but he failed to mention that the money raised by Discovery II students working in WCU concession stands would account for more than half the estimated expense of the trip.

Because of this program, I am back in school after wanting to drop out (special thanks to Lynn Dillard and Barry Weldin), ready to learn anything and everything I can, and will graduate a year early. Plus, I am able to begin my New Century Scholar college career at the same time.

I have friends who care about me and like me for who I am. They don't judge me by how much money I have, the kinds of clothing I wear, or the junky car that sits outside my school. Best of all, I am happy in life. Who would want to take that away from their children?

Discouraged Discovery II Student,

Danielle Williams

Sylva

Lessons I've learned

To the Editor:

I cannot express my thoughts without crying and the joyfulness in my heart for the people of Jackson County. All the prayers, cards, telephone calls, food and visits have been much appreciated.

After five days at Mission-St. Joseph Hospital and 12 days at Thom's Rehab, I was ever so glad to come through Balsam Gap and to get back home to my own bed. I was supposed to come home with a wheelchair and a walker; instead, I came home with only a cane.

As most of you can imagine, it is very unsettling to be confined to a hospital bed with zero mobility on your left side. After the third day I decided that is not what I want to do for the rest of my life, so with a lot of prayers, hard work and assistance from Thom's Rehab personnel, I started working toward a goal of getting my feet on the ground. Today I am at about 60 percent functional.

Let we share some things I learned while in my hospital bed:

- I learned what family really means and how my family has been so gracious to stand by my side and help in every imaginable aspect.

- I learned about true brotherhood from members of the Cullowhee Fire Department.

- I learned a different side of the Jackson County Sheriff's Department as they kept a check on my residence.

- I learned how the churches in Jackson County come to your aid, even if you are not a member of their particular congregation.

- I learned I have more friends than I could ever begin to mention in this short space... and how each one of them is so very special to me.

- I learned to take each day to its fullest and adorn what God has so graciously blessed each one of us.

- I learned to love your family daily, smell the air, flowers and trees, enjoy the seasons and be sure to give a smile to someone less fortunate.

It makes me proud to volunteer and serve in a county like Jackson, for soon I will be back in full swing. The doctors project that within a year I should experience a full recovery.

Your prayers and kind words have seen me through these past days. May God bless each of you.

With love,

Mickey Luker

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