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Publisher DAVE CAUGHMAN T H E C H E R O K E E LEDGER-NEWS Managing Editor ERIKA NELDNER ©2010 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 (770) 928-3152 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: ERIKA NELDNER SEPTEMBER 22, 2010 CHEROKEE VOICE ■ ISSUE: Fall begins today, Sept. 22. A QUESTION: What’s your favorite activity of the fall? “Taking walks and enjoying God’s beautiful colors in the leaves.” Vivian Walker Canton “Cooking outside because it’s cooler.” Russell Hawkinson Cartersville “Going to my grandchildren’s soccer games.” Phyllis Lea Canton “College football; Notre Dame.” “The fall festivals.” “Shopping.” Aaron Smith Canton Tommy Campagna Woodstock Lovell Rhodes Canton s I continue to ponder the inequities in our government, from the tiny little town in Nowheresville, U.S.A. to atop Capitol Hill, I think of all the familiar faces I see in the newspaper, on TV and on the Internet. New and fresh ideas can bring a different perspective to whatever the situation is at hand. Thinking outside the box and venturing out into the new and unknown can yield wonderful results, which is why I don’t understand why our governments, from the local to national levels, are set up in a way that allows people to make a career out of politics. The reason, I’ve always thought, for running for elected office is to bring new ideas and serve your community, not to see how much money you can make and how much power you can wield. A U.S. Senator or a U.S. Congressperson can stay in office as long as he or she chooses, with the affirmation of voters, of course. Senators serve six-year terms (as many as they can get elected to), and congressmen serve two-year terms (also with no cap on the number of terms). Only 15 states, including Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana and California, have term limits. Several states, including Idaho (in 2002), Massachusetts (in 1997), Oregon (in 2002) and Utah (in 2003) nullified their term limits. Other states that, at one time, had term limits but since have abolished them, include Washington and Wyoming, 1998 and 2004, respectively. On the local level, not one city, or even Cherokee County, has term limits for elected officials. Our local, state and federal lawmakers can run as many times as they want, and they’ll keep that office as long as voters let them. It’s only the executive branches of our state and federal governments that forbid more than two consecutive four-year terms. An e-mail to every city clerk and the county clerk confirmed one person can stay in office as long as they want in Woodstock, Holly Dear Editor, It’s time to limit political terms Springs, Canton, Ball Ground, Cherokee County, Waleska and Nelson. Only one city that I know of, Woodstock, is discussing term limits. In May, Woodstock Mayor Donnie Henriques asked the city council members to think about term limits and be ready to discuss it at a later date. The subject was revisited in July. The proposal was to limit terms to four consecutive, four-year terms, with the only exception allowing the limit to be waived is if no one qualifies for the seat up for re-election. Henriques said he started thinking about the topic a decade ago, when former Mayor David Rogers died. Henriques, who was a city councilman representing Ward 6 at the time, said they had to fill Rogers’ unexpired term, and thoughts of filling the term morphed into term limits. DIALOGUE Erika Neldner The recent discussions in city council meetings have been minimal, but Henriques said he’s talked to city council members one-onone; the general consensus being most are for the limits, so new blood and new ideas can be introduced, and to ensure proceedings and representatives don’t get stagnant. The discussion is expected to continue at next month’s city council work session. While I understand that bringing experience in politics and lawmaking is beneficial to working in city hall, under the Gold Dome or on Capitol Hill, it seems lack of political experience shouldn’t be held against someone and could be construed as a positive characteristic. Most newbie politicians start off with a gung-ho “I’m going to fix the ■ ■ ■ LETTERS ■ world attitude.” But something happens once they get into that elected position. Over the years of interviewing politicians, I’ve noticed that the passion dissolves once they’ve been in office for several years. I don’t know if it’s the pressures they’re under or if they get to the position only to get overwhelmed with the amount of work or influence it takes to make the necessary changes they envisioned on the campaign trail. New representatives also have less of a chance of becoming buddy-buddy with lobbyists and less susceptible to “gimmes” that lobbyists may offer to sway a representative’s vote. New representatives are more likely to stick to their guns and keep their promises they made on the campaign trail. To really get something done in this country, we need that passion that greenhorns bring. We need representatives who aren’t happy with the status quo and have the motivation and the intelligence to get the job done. I’m not advocating for voting against anyone just because they have an “I” next to their name. I’m urging voters to be resourceful, ask questions and do research, and pick someone with that passion, know-how and motivation to change this country and get it back on the right track. Voters are partly to blame for the situation this country is in. We, like a lot of the representatives, have become complacent in and apathetic to the world we live in. The changes necessary are “too big” for us, and we can’t do it on our own. But if we start making changes where we can on the local level and in our communities, then we can create a Domino effect, straight up to Capitol Hill. It’s time to take a stand against career politics, and the best way to start is taking away the power to make it a career. Thanks to Woodstock, it looks like other cities will have a model by which to pursue the endeavor. And let’s hope others take notice and take the change all the way up to Washington, D.C. Come to our country legally My ancestors came to America prior to 1783. I'm not sure that any immigrants were classified as "legal" or "illegal" then. However, these days there is a clear distinction between “legal” and “illegal.” My ancestors left their native country to venture into the rigors and unknowns of a foreign land, a land where there was no welfare/ social services, no Social Security, no hospitals/medical help beyond that you could perform for yourself. In fact, civilization itself in most of the country was likely questionable. How many of “you” would really be here if “you” were faced with the same circumstance? I’m not sure I would. I believe the majority of these illegal aliens don’t have any real desire to become American citizens; they only wish to partake in the “milk & honey” that was/is America. If their country was across the great pond then they may think twice as to coming here, but, as it is, they can saunter back and forth across the border almost at will, come here when they’re sick, come here to build a few months of eligibility toward Social Security benefits, come here to birth a baby, all the while enjoying the benefits of America. Benefits provided at the expense of many hard working Americans, folks that contributed a lifetime of work and service -- many who subsist only on their dwindling Social Security check. The last estimate I’ve heard has the illegal aliens currently in our country pegged at 12 million-plus folks. I am sure there is truth in the fact that they boost our economy, but I am just as sure that they are a drag upon our resources. I’m equally sure that many good folks exist in this mix, as do bad folks. If each positive factor of their being here is offset by a negative, then what do we as a nation stand to gain? Obviously, they gain, we lose? They make a mockery of those here legally. Our country is under assault from foreign people. They wish to steal or just outright take and demand citizenship rather than wait for it to be granted. They ignore the laws that we, ourselves, are held accountable to. They march under foreign flags. They have no right to march in our streets nor demand anything of anyone. Our government needs to do the deeds it was empowered to do in the Constitution. Secure our borders. Jerry Byess Cherokee County
SEPTEMBER 22, 2010 OPINION THE CHEROKEE LEDGER-NEWS 7 LETTERS ■ Cherokee schools are not failing Dear Editor, Georgia Republicans and conservative columnists want us to believe the public school system is failing. We need look no further than our own Cherokee County School District to know the propaganda is untrue. Cherokee County high school seniors did better on the ACT than their peers in Georgia. Cherokee seniors beat the state average by nearly two points. In comparison with the rest of the country, our seniors beat the U.S. average by over a point. Last spring Cherokee County first through eighth-graders did extremely well on the CRCT. Georgia Department of Education records show 95 percent of Cherokee County students met or exceeded standards in reading, 95 percent met or exceeded standards in language arts and 89 percent met or exceeded standards in math. Test scores prove that Cherokee County Schools are succeeding. Dear Editor, Ignoring the success, our local elected officials continue to push for vouchers and school choice. Despite gains across the county on the CRCT, three elementary schools and one high school failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress. Data from the Georgia Department of Education provides insight into the factors contributing to a “Not Meeting AYP” label. A group less than 10 percent of the school population resulted in the schools not meeting AYP. In 2009, Hasty Elementary School did not make AYP but rebounded this year. How were they successful? Did a revolutionary idea come from the Department of Education? Perhaps the threat of competition with charter schools forced teachers to work harder. Were the teachers threatened with their jobs? No, the teachers, parents and students worked together to create a successful learning environment. Analyzing data identified the Tell Cherokee what you think. Letters to the Editor may be submitted by fax to (770) 928-3152, 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. ■■■ strengths and weaknesses of the school. Teachers identified students needing extra instruction using individual student data. Teachers used classroom strategies such as small group, technology-based instruction or collaborative learning groups to reach students. Schools with a higher percentage of students coming from stable, college-educated families score better than the schools with students from less stable or less educated homes. The correlation between household income and test scores are undeniable. However, it is a fallacy to believe poor students cannot learn. Creating an ideal learning environment requires perseverance and creativity from the schools, parents and students. It is disingenuous for our local representatives and senators to claim our schools are failing when obviously they are not. City leaders must face reality This is my opinion only and does not represent the rest of the Woodstock City Council. What does it mean to raise the millage rate to "revenue neutral?" That question has been asked by several city residents recently so please let me share. Each year, the city council is presented a budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Around that time, county officials present the tax digest for the year, which lists all property values in the city. After this, the city council must set the millage rate at the correct amount to generate enough property tax revenues to meet the budget. When looking at a “revenue neutral millage rate,” if the tax digest increases, the millage rate can be lowered so that the property tax revenue generated is the same as the prior year. If the tax digest decreases, the millage rate must be increased to keep the property tax revenues the same as the previous year. So, while each individual’s property tax may vary slightly from year to year, the net property tax revenue to the city will be the same. In this year’s case, the Woodstock tax digest decreased by roughly $70 million in value. The tax digest is an annual assessment of all property values in the city. The 2010 tax digest shows property values in Woodstock valued at about $925 million in total. Because of this, if the current millage rate remains the same, the property tax revenue will be roughly $440,000 less than the prior year. The city council would need to raise the millage rate to make up for this gap -- this is a revenue neutral millage rate increase. Why is the city council voting to raise the millage rate to revenue neutral? Valid and necessary question to ask. I believe it is the responsible thing to do at this time. The current budget is what it is, and we need to deal with that reality. Right now, there is a $1.9 million difference between the budget and projected Duane Willoughby Canton revenues. If the millage rate is raised to revenue neutral, then it is reduced to a $1.5 million difference -- ugly either way you slice it. But as city leaders, we have to slice it, and we must deal with reality. Discussions about the budget and spending are valid and necessary too. But for the purpose of the current millage rate, we must focus on the reality of the situation. Now the good news. While the very short term looks bumpy, I think the future of Woodstock is absolutely awesome, and I am highly confident in our longterm financial stability. Just take a look at the activity in downtown; great things are happening. Please e-mail me anytime at ccasdia@woodstockga.gov. I welcome all questions. Chris Casdia Woodstock (EDITOR’S NOTE: Casdia serves on the Woodstock City Council, representing Ward 2). Soldiers do endure much worse Dear Editor, I agree completely with Christian Stevens in his letter (“Inmates shouldn’t be so lucky,” Sept. 15) regarding inmates’ families complaining about the “treatment” in the jail. Conditions in the jail system compared to what many of our military are encountering are like being in a four-star hotel. Our military did not break the law to require them to suffer the heat, dirt, missed meals, missing family, being shot at, sleeping outside in the rain, and being put in danger of their very lives in order to keep not only the law-abiding citizens safe, but the criminals that are currently serving time. Inmates, on the other hand, are basically selfish, inconsiderate, menaces to society and are where they are because of their own choice. Perhaps suffering “poor jail conditions” will make them want to change their ways and not go back to the same place over and over again. As for the families that visit these inmates, good for you. This is another privilege that our troops do not have. None of us like to see our loved ones suffer, even in the jail system, but the chances of these families getting notice that their loved ones will not be returning home are very slim compared to military families. So, Christian Stevens, if you ever run for sheriff of Cherokee County, you have my vote. Rebecca Fuller Canton • I would like to know what happened to the SPLOST money that was supposed to renovate the Canton club for seniors. We will be watching and waiting come the November election. • I would like to know whose bright idea it was to close Ga. 5 to put in a turnaround on a road with a low speed limit as it is? • And now I see our water bills are going to be increased by a decision made by the Woodstock council. When are they going to realize they are spending our tax money very foolishly. • I was under the impression that high school and junior high school had a dress code. • Please watch your car doors when opening them. Dents in the car are no good for anyone. • Thank you to the three men who found my key at Boling Park. • To the unkind elderly woman cooking hamburgers at her yard sale on Sept. 11: try to be a nicer person. As I was shopping, I noticed how ungrateful and rude you were to those students volunteering to help you. Some anger management classes wouldn't hurt. • Pulling up to the local university and watching a lot of the girls going into the health industry smoking. Kind of oxymoronic isn’t it? • Poor jail conditions: don’t commit crimes and you won’t have to go to jail. • So let me get this straight: first you commit a heinous crime, then you get arrested and sent to jail, then you complain about the conditions being sub-par. What did you expect, a country club? Face up and be a man. Jail isn’t supposed to be paradise. • Taxpayers should be shocked at Dr. P’s $217,000 a year salary. • The senior center is not a restaurant. We don’t serve or sell to the public. Get your facts straight. • People, please go to the Cherokee County Animal Shelter and adopt an animal. It’s so sad to see all those animals without homes. If you see an animal being abandoned, please pay attention and call somebody to bring attention. • I want to say thank you for my family for taking care of me and my kids when I was going through chemo with lung cancer. I wouldn’t have gotten through it without you. • To the parent who said Dr. P only had to fool the school board to get his contract renewed: how did he fool them? With Northern intelligence? • As a Creekview student, I’d like to point out that Sequoyah’s stadium had no trash cans for us to throw our trash away, so what did they expect? • To the person complaining about the tailgaters on Interstate 575: either speed up or get in the right lane. Problem solved. • To the families who alleged poor jail conditions: be serious. They are in there because they did something bad, not because they’re on vacation. That sounds ridiculous to taxpayers. • Let’s get the prisoners in the jail to pick up all the trash on the highways in Cherokee County. • After months of detours, hundreds of thousands of tax dollars, can anyone tell me any purpose the roundabout on Ga. 5 has accomplished that three traffic lights could have done the same with less money and less time? • In addition to installing a traffic light at East Cherokee and Tripp Road, the county needs to install side rails at Avery Creek bridge on East Cherokee Drive to prevent any further motorists from going over. SOAPBOX ■ • Thank you very much teachers. If it wasn’t for you, my daughter wouldn’t be getting the education she is receiving, and then, where would she be? Thank you very much. • To the person who thinks they don’t need media clerks: maybe not the smaller schools, but the bigger ones do. We can’t do it alone. • The school lunch article said students could charge up to $10. My child goes to Creekland Middle School, and he forgot his lunch money one day, and he was refused a lunch. He was told he could get a courtesy lunch because he didn’t have money and that they didn’t charge anything. So where does the $10 come from? • Thank you Cherokee County sheriff’s (deputies) for responding to Daffodil Drive every weekend. • It’s not only the middle school teachers that are putting homework assignments on the computer. It’s elementary and high school teachers too. It’s to save paper and money. If you tell the teacher you don’t have access to a computer, they would be happy to send things home for you. • I am so thankful for my kindergarten parapro. She works so hard, and I can’t even believe what it would be like without her. • To the person who wants to eliminate schools buses: thank you, you would eliminate my job then I will start drawing unemployment like one-third of the country. Then the thousands of children in Cherokee who don’t have a way to school won’t be able to get there. • Beautiful assembly at Freedom Middle School honoring fire, police and emergency response teams. It’s a shame they weren’t invited. • Just saw the new roundabout, and I’m not sure how we survived before without it. Looks like the neighborhood has right of way and the major state road has to yield. Nonsense. • Woodstock, why are the yellow change lights set at five seconds? The normal setting is 15 seconds. • Just because you have a handicap symbol on your car but you’re not the one who is handicapped doesn’t mean you have the right to park there. Stop being selfish and leave that space for someone who needs it. • Regarding the article on the jail: don’t do anything to get locked up, and you won’t have to worry about it. • If Sheriff Garrison is able to say that my 21-year-old son in K- Pod is one of the most heinous offenders he has in custody, then I should be able to say the sheriff is at least ignorant of the facts. My son was in the wrong place at the wrong time. • To the people who think the curb on Water Tank Road is a hazard: it’s not a hazard if you’re going the speed limit. • To the couple who paid for my lunch and left the tip at Cracker Barrel in Canton on Sept. 8, may God bless you abundantly. • No matter where you’re from or where you’re heading, we’d like to welcome you to our town/city in Cherokee County. Please come back. 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 22, 2010 Volume 16,
Page 3 and 4: SEPTEMBER 22, 2010 NEWS THE CHEROKE
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Page 11 and 12: SEPTEMBER 22, 2010 COMMUNITY FEATUR
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