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Letters to the editor: 03/30/00 |
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Glad litter is being addressed
To the Editor: Bravo to the county commissioners, who are finally addressing the appalling litter problem in Jackson County, and to your newspaper for your editorial support. All the laws in the world will do little good without strong enforcement, and the perfect place to start would be stationing an officer at "Rotary Corner" where Business 23 and N.C. 107 come together. As you know, the Sylva Rotary Club maintains and cleans that intersection monthly. The amount of cigarettes and trash picked up there is unbelievable. A rash of tickets given to the ashtray and trash dumpers, along with full publicity from your paper, would go a long way toward public awareness and responsibility. Jim Greenwald Sarasota, Fla. and Balsam 'Let 'em play ball' To the Editor: I write this letter with many parents in mind who attend sporting events in support of their children. I am the parent of a freshman at Smoky Mountain High who is enthusiastic about her participation on the softball team. As her parent, I, too, am enthusiastic and attend games to yell "Go Mustangs!" At a parent meeting before the season began, we were reminded that high school sports is not the same as those offered by the Recreation Department. A student tries out for the team and may be cut. It is my assumption that if a student is not cut from the team, she possesses at least the minimum skills required to play. Because playing increases skill, I assume a coach is motivated to have all players involved. Not so. Kids sit entire games on the bench. Would one inning of play time do the team harm or risk a losing final score? I don't think so. If teamwork is an emphasis, playing all members would only strengthen the spirit of the team and increase the skill level of every player. My late husband, Scott Kelly, was a volunteer coach and loved every minute of it. His single most important commitment to each child was to let them play. If a kid had a good attitude and attended practices, he was proud to support them on the team. Well, I'm with Scott. Let 'em play! After all, its not pro ball. Adults (including coaches) should be advocating for all students, not just their son or daughter or the child with the most skill. We are a community and each person has a contribution to make... even on the ballfield. Sincerely, Rebecca Herbers Sylva Reader thrilled litter is being addressed To the Editor: Well, hooray and hallelujah! I was so delighted to read in the March 16 issue about efforts to address the trash problem. I am an avid race walker, putting in 30-40 miles per week, and every where I look, there is trash and more trash; down the slopes, alongside the roads, in the medians and in the creeks. It's a sad commentary on the apathy that exists in our society when citizens blatantly throw debris out of their cars and dump refrigerators, stoves and cars over cliffs, taking no pride in this gracious land of ours. The attitude "out of sight out of mind" shows lack of respect, not only for property, but boils down to the prevalent low self-esteem in our country. I carry plastic bags with me on my walks and leave them at the side of the road to pick up later and take to the recycle center. I walk 14 miles from Balsam to Sylva, and I always run out of trash bags before I reach Sylva. One rare day a gentleman in a pickup stopped as I walked along the Old Asheville Highway and told me to throw what I had picked up in the back of his truck. He made my day! In South Carolina there is a group called GAG - Grandparents Against Garbage - and they go out at least once a week to pick up trash. Sylva could use such a group... and more! Here's hoping for a cleaner, greener and more scenic North Carolina! Judy Greenwald Balsam Supplement only way to address teacher shortage problem To the Editor: First of all, I would like to personally thank all the members of the NCAE supplement committee for the excellent job they have done in putting together the supplement proposal for the teachers of Jackson County. Many hours of hard work have gone into this proposal, which is evident if you have seen the professional Power Point presentation members have given to the Jackson County Board of Education, county Board of Commissioners, the faculties at all the local schools, and many clubs and organizations. The facts speak for themselves, but I'm not sure everyone is listening. I implore the Jackson County School Board and Board of Commissioners to do everything within their power to honor and implement this proposal request. The teachers of this county deserve it. Be visionary in your consideration of the proposal as you make our your budgets. There is going to be a teacher shortage - that's a fact. All of us, parents and grandparents alike, will only want the very best teachers for our children and grandchildren. Having this supplement in place in Jackson County will be the only way we can insure ourselves of attracting the very best. I feel sure that the school board members and the commissioners will do the right thing. Can they afford not to? Carolyn Wike Cullowhee |
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