Letters to the editor: 06/21/01

Little League is a big let-down

To the Editor:

When did the focus of letting the kids enjoy themselves on the field get lost? All I have seen this season is a bunch of grown-ups acting like children and complaining about everything from kids [not] wearing the equipment they should be to our ex-coach standing too close to the dugout. My son's team was made fun of, talked about and humiliated. Yet at every game they held their heads high and went out there and played their hearts out. To me that means more than first place or any tournament championship ever could.

I will not blame anyone, nor will I say that everyone was like that. Each of you know who you are without name calling. I have certainly heard enough of that this season. Priorities have been misplaced in this sport, and some need to step back and look at what this teaches the kids. The sad part is that many of these boys are friends off the field, and it is a shame that they cannot even play a friendly game of ball without having it ruined. It's not like this is the World Series.

All I can say is that if my son decides to never play in the league again, I will not be disappointed at all.

Sincerely,

Judy Monteith

Sylva

Cutting School for the Deaf is not way to balance the state budget

To the Editor:

1. The way to balance the budget is to cut services to the handicapped instead of sharing the cuts in all state programs.

2. Local school systems will have to foot the bill for these educational services, per IDEA -individuals with disabilities act.

3. We will have to pay directly for these services with local taxes to comply with federal laws. 4. Our deaf school has been open for more than 100 years. We will be the only Southern state without a school for the deaf if the budget passes as proposed.

5. Deaf children function better vocationally (work) when trained by the multitude of experts employed by the NCSD.

6. I know this first-hand as my daughter attends the Morganton school.

Its not too late to make changes in the budget proposal. Call our local representative, Phil Haire. His email address appears in The Herald all the time. Philliph@ncleg.net Thanks,

Mike Fitzgerald

Sylva

County ordinance stalls developer

To the Editor:

The inspection department told me I needed to post bond in excess of $20,000. When I talked to Commissioner Jay Denton about it, he told me I could not post my own bond using cash or a certified check. He said I would have to buy a bond from an insurance company.

The bonding company would not sell a bond for this because of the way the ordinance is written. Since there is no bond required for developments of less than 5 acres, I had to resubmit my plans for smaller tracts of land.

When the Trillium Ridge Co. submitted plans, they also needed a bond for $20,000. They had the bank send a letter of credit, which was accepted by the county.

When I asked the commissioners about it at the last board meeting, some of them were unaware of the bonding requirements written into the ordinance.

Once the commissioners deliver the professional county manager like they promised, I believe county business will be conducted on a more professional level... not on a who's who level.

Wayne Smith

Sylva

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