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Letters to the editor: 08/10/00

More support needed for WWII memorial

To the Editor:

Several months ago you were kind enough to publish my letter drawing attention to the planned National WWII Memorial and my hope that North Carolina would be represented. I am delighted to find that this has happened, in no small measure thanks to Sen. Dan Robinson and Rep. Phil Haire.

Sen. Robinson introduced the bill in the Senate and convinced almost all the Senators to be co-sponsors. While in the Assembly, Rep. Haire co-sponsored the bill which, I believe was drafted at the instigation of the VFW. Thanks to our two representatives and many more in the General Assembly, North Carolina as a state that contributed so much to the victory in WWII, has officially honored the many thousands of North Carolinians, civilians and armed services alike, who did so much to secure this victory.

It may not be well known that this memorial cannot receive federal tax funds and must raise all the money through a private fund-raising campaigns. Even though most states have pledged support, there still is an urgent need for individual donations if the goal of starting construction on Veteran's Day 2000 is to be reached. Many foundations and corporations are supporting the memorial, but individual donations are crucial.

If anyone would like to honor those who fought, worked, sacrificed, suffered and died for the freedoms we take for granted, I can think of no better way than to contribute to this long overdue monument. This can be done easily by calling 1-800-639-4WW2 for more information or donating on line at www.wwiimemorial.com.

Something to remember - this is the only national war memorial that I know off which honors not only those who fought but also the civilians who in so many ways made the victory possible.

F. Merton Cregger
Cullowhee

Efficiency of DOT in question

To the Editor:

The DOT work crew is adding two turn lanes on N.C. 107 at the intersection of Webster Road (N.C. 116). They are using the outside lane heading south for a work space lane and have traffic blocked off from using this lane for the last a quarter mile.

After the traffic was backed up all the way into Sylva on Friday, the Sylva Police appeared about 5:30 p.m. and began directing traffic with hand signals. This was a great assist to the motorists who had been trying to get past this intersection for over half an hour.

Why can't the DOT re-route traffic into the passing lane with barrels, like they do every where else, to alleviate this kind of pile up?

The equipment was left parked on the road on Saturday, and the same lane was blocked off as a parking space for these two pieces of equipment.

The public who pays the bill was given no consideration. Why can't the DOT be more efficient? Monday, the traffic stack again happened, when the center passing lane could have been used for part of the re-routed lanes.

Is it possible to give the DOT engineers in charge some lessons on efficiency? The efficiency rating in Jackson County is too low to measure.

We need help, as of last year, to improve the management in Jackson County, in order to get our money's worth for the dollars we spend, in order to get more roads for our expenditures.

Since this intersection may lie within the city limits of Sylva, they should be asked to control this severe backup of traffic when it happens, but apparently they were not asked to do so.

Who can help us?

Frank Young
Cullowhee

Looking forward to CHS reunion

To the Editor:

Aug. 12, 2000, is going to be such a wonderful day - the Cullowhee High School reunion!

I am really looking forward to it. I would like to thank all those who have worked so hard in planning so that we can have a great reunion, for endless hours spent on the computer typing, looking up addresses, and in meetings.

We do thank each of you.

Sincerely,
Betty Jean (Flake) Sink

Cartoon prompts response

To the Editor:

Recently The Sylva Herald ran a political cartoon pointing out the lack of news coverage on the race for lieutenant governor. This election is key to North Carolina's future, and so I'd like to take a moment to introduce readers to the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, Sen. Beverly Perdue.

As lieutenant governor, Sen. Perdue will champion the issues on which she has been a leader in the General Assembly for 14 years: improving education for our children and care for our seniors.

Sen. Perdue is a chief architect of North Carolina's progress in improving public schools. As a former classroom teacher, she understands the needs of our schools and has responded proactively with innovative and successful initiatives including the nationally renowned ABCs of Education accountability program and raising teachers' pay to the national average.

Sen. Perdue understands that "character counts" and that schools can teach our children this lesson. During the 2000 session of the General Assembly, Sen. Perdue championed a Character Education bill that would teach children respect for teachers and others by encouraging the use of courtesy titles such as "Yes, Ma'am/Yes, Sir."

On care for the elderly, Sen. Perdue is a leader without peer. She laid the groundwork during the 2000 session of the General Assembly to turn N.C.'s Prescription Drug Assistance Program for seniors into a major statewide initiative. Sen. Perdue fought for $250,000 in the budget to study the most cost-effective ways to continue to expand the program. In addition, she doubled the program's budget to $1 million.

Health leaders and advocates for the elderly praised the move. As lieutenant governor, Sen. Perdue will continue to develop this program and others to improve the lives of North Carolina's seniors and complement future federal efforts.

Sen. Perdue has the leadership abilities to get things done. This year alone, she received the North Carolina Association of Educators' President Award, the Legislator of the Year Award from the National Association of Local Boards of Health, and the George L. Maddox Award from the North Carolina Division of Aging.

Sen. Perdue is a proven leader and will make a dynamic, hard-working lieutenant governor for North Carolina's families.

Sincerely,

Billy Warden

Communications Director

Perdue for Lt. Governor

Bus because educational opportunities are not equal

To the Editor:

I'm writing this with tears in my eyes. How did a plea to the Jackson County School Board for transportation of high school students from Cashiers/Glenville to Smoky Mountain High School in Sylva go from a "community issue" to a "county controversy?"

On July 6 parents of high school students in Cashiers/Glenville who are enrolled in SMHS presented their issue. As a spokesperson, I brought to light that the parents travel approximately three hours and 108 miles a day - a grueling drive. Add an eight-hour workday to this task, and you have a "half-dead" human being!

The neighborhood school, Blue Ridge, does not offer the courses SMHS offers for these particular students. Why should they be deprived of their educational needs? Until the time comes when Blue Ridge School and SMHS offer equal educational opportunities, the students need to be where they want to be. These young adults should be safely bused to their high school.

At the July 31 school board meeting, the chairman of the board, Ms. Queen, stated that she was in favor of granting our request, and my heart was enlightened. My daughter, an entering freshman at SMHS, squeezed my hand and looked at me with a broad smile, only to learn moments later that the statement was Ms. Queen's personal thoughts on the matter and not the school board's unanimous decision.

Evidently, since the July 6 meeting, the board had not addressed the issue collectively and could not find a solution. The parents approached the school board for help to make a judgment call.

Isn't this the reason for a school board? A member of the board, Mr. Trine, stated, "Maybe someone out there has a solution."

No, Mr. Trine. This is the board's job to find solutions, make decisions. That's why you're there, to resolve educational issues.

Our Jackson County School Board has turned a request for a small number of student to be transported by bus into a county crisis. It is not an issue of one school being better than another or what happened in the past. The issue is safely transporting students to SMHS and relieving working parents of their grueling drive. That's it.

The solution is not "out there." It is within the Jackson County School Board's hearts.

The solution is quite simple. Listen to your chairman, listen to Mr. Winston Reed (transportation coordinator), and listen to what the students need.

Transportation for education. Is that too much to ask for?

Regina Marrone
Sapphire

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