Letters to the editor: 05/10/01

Shriners help children

To the Editor:

But more important are the children of this country, many who are disabled due to some type of deformity, polio, orthopedic disorder, or burned, who need much attention from professional surgeons, and hospitals that specialize in such treatments.

And this is where we, the Shriners of North Carolina of the Oasis Shrine Temple, come into action. We have many children here in Western North Carolina who need help through our hospital system and the support from all different sources.

Dedicated doctors and nurses at the Shriners hospitals and burn institutes treat children every day, without charge to the patients or their parents. The Shrine hospital network currently includes 22 hospitals, 19 orthopedic units and three burn institutes. The Shriners hospitals are supported by the Shrine. The Shrine gets its support from people like you.

Each year, the Shriners sponsor fund-raising drives for the hospitals. Through my daily travels I have made new friends, met old ones and received many donations to put towards some child who needs our help. If, and when, you see a Shriner coming into your place of business asking for help for the children's hospitals, please know that he is working for those children and he is devoted to this important cause.

We do not keep any of this money. All 100 percent is sent into the Shriners hospital system. On the average, it cost $3.5 million to operate all 22 hospitals for just one day.

I personally want to thank the individuals and merchants who have contributed to such a worthwhile need for the children within Jackson County.

Again this year we are offering plaques to businesses and individuals who contribute to the cause of making these children well. We would love to offer one to you. Put it on your wall and every time you pass it you can think of the children not wrapped in bandages, but wrapped in a smile that says, "Thank you for making me well."

Alvin Frady

Hospital Staff

Smoky Mountain

Shrine Club

Sylva

Support Peace Week

To the Editor:

Thank you to all of the Jackson County volunteers and merchants who supported our Peace Week efforts. A list of all those volunteers and merchants supporting Peace Week 2001 will appear in the May 31 issue of The Sylva Herald.

Again, thanks for your generosity.

Betty McRae

Mountain Dispute

Settlement Center

Students disregard rights of neighbors

To the Editor:

On May 4, when they had another late-night party - live band included - I was stunned to find that taxpaying citizens have few rights.

A new saying developed: "WCU rules." Loud music, excessive drinking and piercing screams as though a football stadium was next door.

What amazed me most were the students' disrespect and disregard not only or the community but also for law enforcement officers who were called not once but twice. It meant nothing to them; they just got louder. The students were advised to move their vehicles from our properties or be towed. Very little sleep was had by the taxpaying, working citizens this night.

Would I rent to a college student? Never. Will I be surprised when again one is involved in or causes a serious or fatal accident? I think not.

Sometimes out of negativity comes knowledge. If you must, call law enforcement, sign a complaint agreeing and go to court on a disturbance or nuisance charge. This is, as near as I can determine, the only action we can take.

Again, WCU rules!

Marion Milano

Cullowhee

Sylva doing fine without manager

To the Editor:

The town employees have been doing an excellent job keeping the town clean and well maintained. What kind of message does this send when they work hard only to be rewarded at Christmas with no Christmas bonus.

Forget about spending a lot of money on a town manager. Tommy (Thompson, town clerk/administrator for almost 13 years) has been doing an outstanding job managing the town and budgeting the funds so they are not wasted.

Brenda Oliver, our mayor, has also been doing an outstanding job working with SPIR and beautifying Sylva.

Leave Tommy in charge of the budget, pay the mayor more money to help Tommy and if the budget is still short, raise taxes.

After such a successful spring festival, it would be a shame to cut back on the things that bring people to town.

Sincerely,

Herb Zachmann

Sylva

Tennis team would benefit SMHS students

To the Editor:

High school sports are a big deal at Smoky Mountain, especially sports such as football and basketball. Don't get me wrong, these sports are great for students to stay in shape and meet new friends. However, not many people continue to play them throughout their lives. Tennis, on the other hand, is a sport in which people of all ages can participate in and enjoy.

I personally play tennis quite often and it is not unusual to see others playing from ages 7 to 70. So I asked myself why the high school no longer has a tennis team.

The facilities are available and the interest is most definitely there. To prove my point, I organized a meeting to start a team. The outcome was more than encouraging, and we had more than enough people to get a good-sized team started. The athletic department approved it and there was even a coach lined up.

Then something happened during the transfer of superintendents and the team was cut. I couldn't believe it. I had recently spoken with the girls' tennis coach from Enka High School, and he informed me that tennis was one of the least expensive sports to support. So why was the program cut? I'm not sure.

Several students and teachers continue to ask me each week what happened to the tennis team and whether there will be one next year. All I can say is, "hopefully," and tell them to say something to the athletic department or the school board. The more support we have, the greater chance there will be for getting a team started.

The local recreational department recently started a tennis program for kids ages 5 to 12. My father and I have been instructing the classes, and we can already see potential in the kids. It would be a shame for these kids to grow up playing tennis and then not be able to compete at the high school level.

Tennis is a lifetime sport. It creates an opportunity for students to excel in yet another area in high school and carry these talents throughout their lives.

Since the funding should not be a problem and the interest is there, surely by next year Smoky Mountain High School will have both a girls' and boys' team. The more people who speak up, the greater the chance.

So please join me in encouraging our local high school to offer one more thing that will benefit the participants for a lifetime.

Sincerely,

Jenny Frizzell

SMHS junior

Sylva

Editor's Note: (SMHS has never had a tennis team. Sylva-Webster had a tennis team during the late 1970s; there has been no team since S-W was consolidated with Cullowhee High to form SMHS.)

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