The News Courier encourages letters to the editor. Submissions should be no more than 400 words and should include a name, address and telephone number for verification. Submissions that do not meet requirements are subject to editing. Send letters by noon on Thursdays to P.O. Box 670, Athens, AL 35613, or e-mail to kelly@athensnews-courier.com.



Obama’s first 8 months

Dear Editor:

Let’s recap what the Obama administration is attempting in its first eight months in office. A $500 billion cut in Medicare benefits for seniors, and no cost of living increase in Social Security payments for the first time in history. Senior citizens, due to their age and physical condition, can’t readily find employment to gain income to pay for the lost benefits and lost income. Instead, Obama wants increased funding to welfare recipients. Welfare is currently costing $800 billion, paid from 71 different government agencies, and he wants to increase its funding by $300 billion over the next two years to over a trillion dollars per year. Many welfare recipients are people who decided not to complete their free public education and can’t find jobs, mothers of multiple illegitimate children by multiple fathers, and in many cases illegal aliens. Interestingly, welfare recipients young enough to get work, including single mothers, or those illegally in this country, receive free taxpayer funds, but elderly senior citizens, who worked all their lives, are being deprived of their earned benefits!

This doesn’t discuss the trillions of dollars current pending bills will cost such as health care with its possible destruction of the private insurance industry, and excellent immediate health care, and all the insurance industry jobs, the clean air and energy cap and trade bill and its tremendous cost and loss of jobs, the billions spent needlessly on Congressional earmarks, and expenses for Obama’s 37 czars that will control and oversee all aspects of our daily life. These czars do not require the approval of Congress to be appointed but will have more power than Congressionally approved Cabinet officers.

Obama said he wants to redistribute the wealth. He’s not only trying to take from the hardworking, taxpaying citizens and giving away to the undeserving, but really giving our nation’s financial wealth to China, Japan, and India. This will potentially reduce the dollar’s value due to serious future inflation and China’s potential currency devaluation will make their products even cheaper. I hope all common sense and intelligent citizens will do everything in their power to put a halt to the disastrous activities of this Congress and administration, or your children will have their futures destroyed and your current income dramatically reduced. Congress must get the message: Halt the deficit spending, higher taxes, and legislation causing higher living costs, or lose your job in the next election.



Sincerely,

Quentin D. Anderson Sr.

Athens



Banks becoming dumps

Dear Editor:

When I was a young boy growing up, there was not a house on Elk River. I remember how clean and pure the waters were and the wildlife was plentiful except for the deer and turkey that had been killed out years ago for food by poor people.

It was a pleasure to go down to the river and fish from the banks. The river had no litter or garbage floating downstream or along the banks. The TVA even sent crews of men along its banks every fall of the year to clean up the driftwood.

Then, a few years later things began to change; even the people began to change. Greed was taking over. It seemed that everyone was after the almighty dollar. The people were working hard to use up our natural resources. This was a way for people to make the big bucks. The harm they did to our Mother Earth never entered into the big money people’s minds.

Most of the people of today have no respect for this earth. They have no respect for our rivers, lakes and streams. They have no respect for our highways.

I disagree with the R.F.D. proposal. I am against any type of commercial building being constructed on the banks of the Elk River. Maybe it’s time for the people to say ‘Enough is enough.’ It’s time to keep some things in their natural state. Don’t let progress destroy everything that we hold dear.

This land and river are where my Native American ancestors grew up and lived. To them these were sacred grounds, but the white people never learned a thing from the keepers of this great country.

No matter how many people object to this project on Elk River, in the end money will do the talking and will prevail.



Sincerely,

Dale Lone Elk Casteel

Athens



Help provide costumes

Dear Editor:

My name is Angie Pattillo. I started a Halloween costume drive to benefit children at Cowart Elementary and Athens Elementary schools last year. With ads placed on various Web sites and through where I worked I raised almost 40 costumes. Although that sounds like a lot, unfortunately it was not enough to cover both schools and forced me to choose between the two. I chose Cowart.

The day of the Halloween party, as children came to school dressed up, so many came in all sad and depressed because they had no costume to wear. They had no clue I was there to give them their very own costumes.

As class began, the teachers called each student out, starting with kindergarten first, who needed a costume and sent them to me. Once inside the office, the costumes were hung up everywhere just like a real store and each child got to pick out the one of their choice. It was unbelievable how these children reacted. Some had never had a costume and they just couldn’t believe it was theirs to take home and keep. I have never seen children smile so big as they did going back down the hall to their rooms. For just one day, they could be like everybody else.

This is my goal again this year, for just one day; let children be just alike. If I could raise more, Athens Elementary would not go without this year and other needy children in our Athens area could also have a costume.

If anyone out there would like to help, contact me at (256) 217-3380 or at my work number (256) 730-3565. You may also e-mail me at angie.pattillo@intergraph.com.



Sincerely,

Angie Pattillo

Athens



Humane Society asks help

Dear Editor:

To the people of Limestone County who love animals — I am proud and honored to be one of three members of our Humane Society. As of a few years ago only Norma Creel and myself held this position alone after the president scandal. Approximately one year ago we were joined by Angela Romine.

We need help. We each foster around 40 dogs and puppies that were abandoned or not wanted. Anyone and everyone is welcome to see our animals. Mine are beautiful and happy, as are Angela’s.

We need help with food, cleaning pens and most of all recognition. I met a lady last Saturday that did not know we existed. Our vet bills are high. No way could I have held out this long without Dr. Wendy Jolly, who has extended and extended my bill.

Please everyone help us in some way.



Sincerely,

Jean Crafts

Humane Society of Limestone County



Cruise-ins a success

Dear Editor:

On Oct. 3, Spirit of Athens will be sponsoring it's last “Cruise In” of the year. We would like to thank the community for supporting this event. SOA is a community driven organization, and it’s our mission to continue to bring events downtown. Additionally, SOA focuses on other revitalization efforts including design, organization, and economic restructuring.

A number of individuals, businesses, and vendors have spent numerous hours behind the scenes to make the monthly “Cruise In” a success. Hundreds of antique cars, their owners and even more spectators visited the square on the first Saturday each month since March. Special thanks goes to Bland Allen for allowing SOA to be a part of this event and for coordinating vendor, volunteers, setup, and parking. His team that made the event run smoothly includes Dwight Billions, Larry Crowley, Ira Whitehead and Earl Green.

SOA also appreciates the following volunteers: Regina Crawford, Ken Crawford, Wyn Heisler, Jim Heisler, Gayle Black, Victoria Black, Shane Black, Teresa Todd-AthensPlus, Carole Forét, Todd Forét, Elizabeth McClary, Leslie Pepper, Patti Whitaker, Christopher Gregory, Brenda Daniel, Emily Bryant, T.R.A.I.L. group, Bruce Reynolds, Teresa K. Todd, and Alissa Rose-Clark. Sponsorships and in- kind services were provided by Paul Dreyfus, Southern Shaved Ice, Athens Plus, CIty of Athens, Limestone County Commission, Railroad Bazaar, 100.3 the River and many others which I may have failed to mention.

Volunteers are essential to the success of SOA. I, along with the SOA Board, appreciate the community support and investment in the revitalization efforts in Downtown Athens.

Sincerely,

Trisha Black, Executive Director

Spirit of Athens



Public Lands Day held

Dear Editor:

This Saturday I will join thousands of Americans across the country in celebrating the 16th annual National Public Lands Day. For over 100 years, America’s federal lands have helped to shape our culture, economy and natural environment, giving us clean water, air, magnificent places to play, and also providing refuge for our nation’s most wondrous wildlife.

One day a year simply isn’t enough to demonstrate America’s commitment to the stewardship of these special lands. That’s why I’ve asked my representative, Parker Griffith, to support the America’s Wildlife Heritage Act. I encourage my neighbors in the Huntsville area to do the same. This bill will help to ensure that every day our nation is doing its best to sustainably manage these precious resources for generations to come.



Sincerely,

Beth Norwood

Huntsville