09.17 Ledger 01 - Index of - The Cherokee Ledger-News

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Publisher DAVE CAUGHMAN T H E C H E R O K E E LEDGER-NEWS Editor GERRY YANDEL Assistant Managing Editor ERIKA NELDNER ©2008 Lakeside Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved. Articles and advertisements may not be reprinted in whole or in part without the expressed written consent of Lakeside Publishing Inc. The Cherokee Ledger-News, published weekly on Wednesday by Lakeside Publishing, Inc., 103 E. Main St., Woodstock, GA 30188-4908. Periodicals postage paid at Monroe, GA and additional post offices. USPS 021-137. Postmaster: Please send address changes to The Cherokee Ledger-News 103 E. Main St., Woodstock, GA 30188-4908. Phone (770) 928-0706 • Fax (888) 761-1989 Send e-mail to: editor@ledgernews.com Write us at P.O. Box 2369, Woodstock, GA 30188-1379 Disclaimer: The views expressed on the Opinion page are not necessarily the views of the publisher or the staff of the Cherokee Ledger-News LEDGER-NEWS OPINION 6 THE CHEROKEE LEDGER-NEWS MANAGING EDITOR: GERRY YANDEL SEPTEMBER 17, 2008 CHEROKEE VOICE ■ ISSUE: GOP vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin is still the hot topic on the campaign trail. QUESTION: What do you think of Sarah Palin for vice president? “I like her. She's better than the opponent.” Clark Stelling Woodstock “I adore Sarah Palin. She's strong and level-headed, and she's a good representation of Republican Party values.” Rosa Gilbert Woodstock “I like her real well. She's got the sense to run her family and run her country.” Michael Duvall Woodstock “Love her. She's a fresh face, and she holds no punches.” Chet Romines Woodstock “She's an intelligent lady,and she's done a great job in Alaska. My friends at ABC, where I used to work, say she's a firstclass, honest person.” Sam Courtney Acworth “I love her. I'm an NRA member, and I like that she took on corruption in Alaska.” Paul Thomas Canton A case for campaign finance reform W ith his arrest by the FBI a couple weeks ago, the twisted tale of Ben Elliot, the man who would be king in Cherokee County, came to its full, crooked circle. His story may be over, but its telling isn’t finished. And, if there’s one thing true about the story of Ben Elliot, it’s that everything about him was a lie. Much like God’s new gift to American government, Sarah Palin, Elliot came our of nowhere and was suddenly everywhere… at least in Cherokee County. At age 24, he was a millionaire who bought two restaurants, a flower shop and a local newspaper. More importantly, he also launched an aggressive campaign to buy influence in the county. He wrote checks to every local politician who would take them: he bought the Woodstock Police Department a police dog, he gave more than $10,000 to the Fur Ball charity event, he raised $100,000 for Gov. Sonny Perdue’s campaign, and he commandeered the Cherokee County Republican Party. Then, just a few months later, he disappeared… although his influence wavered on for quite some time after he had moved back to Atlanta. In his wake, Elliot left a bunch of people who once defended him fiercely but were left holding the bag for debts he didn’t repay or for people he stiffed on bills. He managed to conduct his brief reign through his chameleonlike ability to re-invent himself at the drop of a hat, a personable and powerful charismatic presence, and sheer, brazen audacity. Of course, there were plenty of people who saw through Elliot’s bluster and baloney, but, what is distressing is the number – and positions – of those who didn’t, or chose not to, see through his story, including many of our local elected officials. It was good to see that Sen. Chip Rogers, R-Woodstock, and Rep. Sean Jerguson, R-Holly Springs, were quick to say they would donate any campaign contributions they had received from Elliot to charity if he was found guilty. Post 4 Commissioner Derek Good should do the same thing, but he’s said he has already spent the money and doesn’t intend to do that. And, Perdue didn’t even address the issue of the $100,000 he took from El- liot. His response was merely that he never saw Elliot again after that one evening when he publicly said that Benni was DIALOGUE Gerry Yandel someone to watch as an up-andcoming young Republican. To be fair, Woodstock should probably wash its hands of Elliot’s ill-gotten gains of the $8,500 it took to buy Atticus, the police dog. But, one also could easily make the case that the K-9 is serving the public and equate Elliot’s contribution to money seized by police in a drug bust that gets used for crime-fighting equipment or personnel. Now, before anyone gets the wrong idea, I am in no way saying ■ ■ ■ LETTERS ■ or implying that the elected officials did anything wrong by taking Elliot’s contributions, including the governor and his windfall. (Although, I would like to see an FBI forensic accountant look into how 30 people, at $2,000 per plate, adds up to $100,000.) At the time, Elliot was not a known crook, although the Cherokee political community was rife with rumors about him, his lifestyle, his financial dealings and his past political affiliations. Although, I think they could have used some better judgment, particularly given the rumors, and a few news articles about Elliot, in allowing themselves to be tied so closely to him. But, the best lesson we can take from Elliot’s activity in Cherokee County, is how flawed our political campaign contribution process is. Ben Elliot was a poster-boy for everything bad about allowing politicians to take large sums of money from “supporters.” A politically astute reader suggested there be a 24-hour reporting requirement on all contributions and that they should be reported dollar-for-dollar. But, I think we need to take it a step further, and ban all corporate contributions, from businesses, PACs and other organizations, and we should limit contributions to $25 per individual. That way, we can get closer to ensuring we are getting elected officials who are in it for the right reasons instead of personal enrichment. And, we can avoid the next Ben Elliot who rolls into town with a wad of cash looking to buy up our local governments. The sky is not falling in Woodstock Dear Editor, As a downtown resident, downtown business owner, property owner, and the one who ultimately was responsible for bringing Hedgewood to downtown, I must find exception with the recent dire predictions for Woodstock as expressed in previous editorials and comments in the Ledger. Certainly, the sluggish economy has put a slowdown on many of the great projects planned for downtown, just as it has slowed all other development projects across the region. This does not mean “the sky is falling,” though, and our future remains bright. First off, has everyone in downtown forgotten that the plan to rebuild city hall in its current location has been on the books for at least four years? Our city is proceeding with this long-term plan for the betterment of downtown. It’s the first forward progress we’ve seen in regard to a true municipal complex in downtown, yet everyone acts as if they have never heard of this part of the master plan. It makes good business sense for our city to purchase a furnished building at a bargain price instead of leasing and throwing money out the window. Unfortunately, Hedgewood is experiencing difficulties (as is every other developer in this market), impacting redevelopment plans. However, the vision for downtown will outlive our currently slow economy and will remain in place independent of anyone’s financial status. Obviously, we want nothing more than for Hedgewood to succeed as they took the biggest risk and placed the most faith in downtown, but the appeal of historic downtown will attract that redevelopment regardless. I am sure I speak for all downtown merchants and residents when I state that we are all saddened by the closing of the Serene Bean, downtown’s beloved coffee house. Unfortunately, market conditions necessitated the Bean close. This does not mean that the business environment in downtown is adverse. We have already succeeded in releasing the space the Bean was located in to another restaurant. Pennybag Emporium (antique store) just opened in my renovated downtown store front, and Linden is set to open soon a block away. Hedgewood’s commercial space has seen renewed interest, as well, with an instructional art gallery opening in a few weeks, along with several other retailers. Lastly, tourist and visitor counts are up with Dean’s Store having record numbers of visitors this year. Currently two months into their Fiscal Year 2009, Dean’s Store has had 1,388 visitors. FY 2008 year-to-date was only 751, and FY 2007 yearto-date was only 786. This underscores the appeal of downtown. Six years ago there were almost no pedestrians on Main Street, but, today, there are a lot of people out walking, shopping and exploring our revitalizing downtown. The bottom line is that the sky has not fallen. We’ve made much progress in six years since I moved to downtown. Businesses continue to open here, we have more residents and, overall, a thriving sense of community. Our economy has taken a temporary slowdown, but this has not diminished the great plans ahead for downtown, which remains an excellent place to raise a family, do business and enjoy your time with your neighbors. Downtown will weather this storm and be the better for it. Tony Eyl Woodstock (Editor’s note: Mr. Eyl is the broker and owner of Landmark Commercial Realty in Woodstock.)
SEPTEMBER 17, 2008 OPINION THE CHEROKEE LEDGER-NEWS 7 LETTERS ■ Pay attention to school bus signals Dear Editor, Twice this month a student was hit when getting on a school bus. One died of her injuries; the other is recovering. As one of the many hundreds of school bus drivers in Georgia, my greatest fear is having a child struck by a passing auto or truck. We are constantly trained by outstanding training departments to watch out for the safety of our students. However, many of those that drive around us could care less about anything but themselves. Many of us drivers have roads on our routes that we know are famous for drivers running school bus red lights. On my route, it is Trickum Road from the Cobb County line to the end in Cherokee County. Every week I have at least one vehicle run my red lights. Some are just making mistakes, but the most dangerous are those that have no respect for the laws and care less about the children. Tell Cherokee what you think. Letters to the Editor may be submitted by fax to (888) 761-1989, by e-mail to editor@ledgernews.com or by regular mail to 103 E. Main St.,Woodstock, GA 30188. All letters must be typed or e-mailed and must include a phone number to verify authenticity. We reserve the right to reject publication.We reserve the right to edit for libel and brevity. ■■■ Often they shoot the driver their middle finger as they go by knowing they are breaking the law. The biggest problem I see is when the school bus first displays its yellow lights, drivers often step on the gas to try and beat the red lights. Please, please, please give our students a chance and stop for the school bus red lights and stop signs. Bob Eldridge Woodstock Sarah Palin hurts women’s cause Dear Editor, “I've been focused on state government and haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq,” (Sarah Palin, Atlantic Monthly.) But Mrs. Palin does know one thing about our troops in Iraq. "Our national leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God." (Sarah Palin, Associated Press.) So our potential commanderin-chief of all our armed forces would send our kids off to war if she has some kind of mystic vision of God's will? How is that different from Islamic extremism? For a person who has been outside the United States exactly once, her version of God's will might be all she has to go on. Mrs. Palin is a member of the Assemblies of God, an extreme Pentecostal church that believes in the “baptism of the spirit,” which can be accomplished by speaking in tongues and faith healing. Will speaking in tongues become the new language of our diplomatic initiatives? Will faith healing become America's new health care plan? Surprised by McCain's selection of Mrs. Palin, Republicans had to scramble to invent Mommy-ness as a top qualification for high office. But what kind of mother knowingly and deliberately injects her young pregnant daughter into the national spotlight to further her political ambitions? She congratulates herself for the “choice” she made (her word, not mine) to have her latest baby. But she would deny any choice whatsoever to all other Americans, even in cases of rape, incest, and the health or possible death of the woman. Her bans don't end there. She thinks that chemistry and geometry are best taught at home, and she would ban sex education in the schools. She tried to ban books from her town library, and she fired the librarian when she wouldn't go along with it. She is currently under investigation for abuse of power, reminiscent of the past eight years of Bush/Cheney. Women will decide this election because they comprise 54 percent of the electorate. For two years, Hillary Clinton worked tirelessly for her party's nomination. Now, after one brief meeting with McCain (the only time McCain had ever met her), Mrs. Palin, a person few had ever heard of, is to be handed a seat in the White House? The Republican strategy of wooing Hillary’s supporters to a candidate whose views are completely contrary to Hillary's in every detail should be an insult to every woman. It shows a condescending lack of respect to women and reveals an earnest belief in their stupidity. The thought of Sarah Palin potentially becoming the next president of the United States, commander-in-chief, and leader of the free world is far more than troubling. It could set back the cause of women for 50 years. Ron Robinson Canton Obama won’t raise taxes for most Dear Editor, I write this in response to a letter published in the Sept. 10 edition of the Ledger-News, in which a Woodstock resident reports that Presidential candidate Barack Obama would increase taxes. The writer stated that Obama would return the nation to the pre-Bush tax cuts, increasing taxes for a single person making $30,000 a year from $ 4,500 a year to $ 9,800 a year. His figures startled me, so I did a little research, as he suggested. While he was correct in stating that Obama would return the nation to the pre-Bush tax cuts, he neglected to mention that this will not affect households that make less than $250,000 a year, which constitutes approximately 95 percent of America. Regarding Obama’s intent to raise the capital gains tax, the writer neglected to mention that Obama would leave intact the current capital gains exemption of $500,000 affecting only a minority of all home sales. In fact, the tax sheet posted on Obama’s Web site states that the capital gains tax for families with incomes below $250,000 would remain the same as under President Bush. Frankly, we have already given a Republican president eight years. We were falsely led into a costly and deadly war using propaganda and White Housepaid “commentators” placed in our news media. We are still looking (I hope) for those weapons of mass destruction and Osama bin Laden. The occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq has cost over $700 billion and is still climbing, for a war which the President has effectively put on a national credit card. President Bush is the only president to cut taxes in a time of war. The government under Bush’s request is funneling billions of dollars to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae despite the Republican free market ideology. The White House predicts a deficit of $490 billion for 2009, the highest ever recorded. Our public image around the world is filled with contempt and mistrust. Home foreclosures have increased 68 percent from 2006. The government is wire-tapping our phones and e-mails, even though they said they would only go after the terrorists. Almost 50 million people do not have, and cannot afford, health insurance. Meanwhile, the Republican candidate John McCain can only campaign on his POW status and rail against the record of the administration that he has been a part of for the last eight years. The Republican Party had its chance, and I am not willing to give them another. My vote goes to Obama. I don’t worry about Obama going down as the worst president in history because, with a 32 percent job approval rating, it will be a long time before we can forget and recover from President Bush and his disastrous presidency. Arlene Nieske Canton ■ If you’re in the Cherokee County jail, the least of your worries should be some cusswords the deputies used. Maybe you should consider what’s wrong with your approach to life. ■ I just wanted to say congratulations to the local authorities for changing Sugar Pike Road and making it a more dangerous, less convenient intersection than it was before. I just wanted to say, “Thank you” for that one. ■ Attention Sarah Palin: Jesus was a community organizer; Pontius Pilate was a governor. ■ The reason why the United States government is blowing up other countries and giving them trillions of dollars and not keeping it here at home is because the United States government doesn’t care about us citizens, unless we have special interests with them and we have a whole lot of money to line their pockets. ■ If you think we can drill a well and get our water, try it. We’d have all the officials here telling us we cannot do that, because we have nothing but dictators in Cherokee County. ■ It is so insulting that the Republicans are saying that because Sarah Palin is a woman that people are questioning here. She has an extreme right-wing agenda that will keep us on the same path we’re on now and lead us into a theocracy. That’s why she is being questioned, not because she’s a woman. ■ Like most attorneys, Barack Obama is a very smooth speaker. But, before I vote for him, I need the answer to one question: Is the change he’ll bring to America the one he speaks of, or the one Rev. Wright, Bill Ayers and Louis Farrakhan speak of ? ■ If the school board and the Republican Party wish to meet, the Republican Party needs to go school board meetings, and individuals get put on the agenda to speak. The last time I checked, the school board members were elected by the public in general. The Republican Party has no business leaning on the school board. ■ Why does the city of Woodstock still have a downtown development authority when nothing new is being developed? It’s time to get rid of the DDA. ■ As an independent woman voter, my vote will go to Barack Obama, because John McCain’s selection of Sarah Palin, who is an extreme right-wing conservative, shows me that he will continue the divisive policies we have had to endure the last eight years with George Bush. We will have more of the same with John McCain and Sarah Palin. ■ To the racist Towne Lake Hills West woman who called and asked me why I have two Hispanic males working with me and not two young white boys. It’s because I can’t find two young white boys who want to work eight to 10 hours a day, don’t complain, aren’t lazy, don’t have drinking and drug problems, actually have a clean driving record, and who actually want to show up for work every day with a good attitude about being there. ■ If there is a special place in hell for anyone, it would be for those who judge others. Remember, judge not lest you be judged in a like manner. ■ If everybody in this world would mind their own business, this world would be a much, much better place. If your child is not allowed to have candy in school, don’t ruin it for everyone else and take it to the school board and take it to the newspaper. Handle it with your child, in your child’s classroom with your child’s teacher. ■ Crazy candy moms: Leave the candy up to all the parents in Cherokee County. Worry about SOAPBOX ■ your own children and don’t try to parent everybody else’s children in Cherokee County. ■ The difference between Dick Cheney and Sarah Palin is lipstick. ■ If you like no jobs, low wages, high health care costs, foreclosures, high cost for college, broken infrastructure, a stupid senseless war and global warming, just vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin, and you can be assured, these problems will continue. ■ Is it true the ATV law was passed because they interfered with one of our commissioners riding his horses? ■ Memo to city of Canton police: Friday nights in Cherokee there are sometimes crowds of needing help with traffic. If you’re going to stand around, grab a flashlight and stand in the middle of the road and direct traffic. Thanks for all you do. ■ I have been voting Republican for 52 years; I guess this year I won’t vote. I have a birth certificate that says legitimate on it. What are we trying to do here, trying to legitimize people who have babies outside of marriage? ■ Go McCain… and take Palin with you. ■ Hey, teachers, we just gave you a back-to-school goodie bag, a $25 gift card and a free yummy breakfast. Is a Thank You card too much to ask? ■ Congratulations, Cherokee County students for the awesome jobs on the SATs. That is front-page news. You all deserve a pat on the back and a piece of candy. ■ I believe our new vice presidential candidate will do a great job, just like she did in her home state of Alaska. ■ OK commissioners, you got rid of the ATVs on the road to the Village in the Forest, now do something about the horseback riders. I cannot open my mailbox or cut my grass without walking over or around horse poop. All my neighbors are tired of this. Give me ATVs any day. ■ No matter which party you support, we need an amendment to end the electoral college and elect the president by popular vote. That’s why we rarely see the candidates come to Georgia. ■ In the presidential race, I’ve always voted Democrat. But, with these two clowns they’ve got running on their ticket now, I am definitely voting Republican. ■ It is still too hot to leave a dog in the car. Even with the windows down, it is still too hot. ■ Whoa, lo and behold, they dropped some gravel on Bishop Road. Pave the blasted thing with all the millions and millions and millions you’re investing in the airport. ■ Hey, folks, before you buy a horse, maybe you ought to consider living in the country. ■ In the upcoming presidential race, it’s not a race of Democrats against Republicans; it’s a race of democracy versus socialism. Be careful what change might bring. ■ Mothers who vote for Sarah Palin vote against their own child’s best interest. ■ No, there are six of us who call into the Soapbox. I just don’t call in every week. The Ledger-News reserves the right not to publish Soapbox items based on libel or other considerations the editor and publisher deem valid. Comments may be edited for brevity. Please keep comments as brief as possible. If you have a lengthy opinion, please submit a letter to the editor. To submit a Soapbox, call (770) 928-1055
Page 1 and 2: FREE September 17, 2008 Volume 14,
Page 3 and 4: SEPTEMBER 17, 2008 NEWS THE CHEROKE
Page 5: SEPTEMBER 17, 2008 NEWS THE CHEROKE
Page 15 and 16: SEPTEMBER 17, 2008 COMMUNITY FEATUR
Page 21 and 22: SEPTEMBER 17, 2008 SPORTS THE CHERO
Page 29 and 30: SEPTEMBER 17, 2008 ARTS & ENTERTAIN
Page 31 and 32: SEPTEMBER 17, 2008 CLASSIFIEDS THE
Page 33 and 34: SEPTEMBER 17, 2008 CLASSIFIEDS THE
Page 35 and 36: SEPTEMBER 17, 2008 THE CHEROKEE LED

09.17 Ledger 01 - Index of - The Cherokee Ledger-News

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