What’s with Athens electrical system?

Dear Editor:

I live at 1107 Jackson Drive in Athens and every time the wind blows or it rains, it seems the power goes out. I feel the Electric Department should look into upgrading the lines in this area to prevent this.

One of the biggest problems I’m having is power surges that are caused when the power goes on and off. It’s fried my motherboard in my computer twice, and these are not cheap to replace. I have surge protectors, but they can only handle so many joules. The west side of Jackson Drive seems to be affected more than the east side. I’m asking the Electric Department workers to please look into this problem and see if there is a way to fix it.



Sincerely,

Jason Jackson

Athens



Opposes immigration ordinance

Dear Editor:

A local ordinance on immigration will effectively criminalize skin color. Employers and landlords will avoid scrutiny by simply refusing to deal with Hispanics. The 1964 Civil Rights Act is being turned upside down. Now discrimination based on color and national origin is mandatory.

When there is an upsurge of white rage, it takes decades for the South to live down its tarnished reputation. This hurts our efforts to evangelize elsewhere. Anyone who calls himself a Christian and participates in ethnic cleansing is a blasphemer.



Sincerely,

Ryan Amptmeyer

Elkmont



Stay focused on the mission

Most Americans never would have foreseen another protracted conflict, yet it is a reality. Of course, when the nation went to war, so did the veterans organizations. The mission of veterans’ organizations is clear; supporting them in the field and caring for the wounded at home. Some 1.3 million veterans have already served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Of this total, 28 percent, or more than 378,000, have done multiple tours. These seasoned combat vets will gradually assume their rightful place among our ranks. Let’s make sure they feel welcome. No one who earned his or her place in the veteran organizations should ever feel slighted. Someday soon, the organizations will undergo a transformation and they will no doubt be in the vanguard.



Sincerely,

Wilburn Moore

Athens



Concurs with stance on illegal liquor

Dear Editor:

Just a word in response to Marvin Whitt’s letter regarding the evils of liquor that was in the Aug. 13 edition of The News Courier: Amen!

Sincerely,

Don Gregg

Athens



Burial plots too pricey

The most recent action by the mayor and council of increasing the price of opening and closing graves is absurd. The reason given by one council member for this increase is there hasn’t been an increase in eight years, or since 1988. This is the weakest excuse I’ve ever heard. Thanks to Mr. Wales for voting against this measure. This is the only thing left you can raise the price on. We have already seen in this current administration price increases on water, sewer, garbage and electric, with no absorption of the Tennessee Valley Authority price hike. Why don’t you start charging admittance to your council meetings and call it “The Big Show?”

Mayor, you can veto any council action if you so desire, or have you ever vetoed anything since you have been in office? I recall that some of your platform was to curtail spending from the previous council. Take a look and you will see you have out spent them many times over. A good example is the new police station. You indicated it would cost more than $3 million, but didn’t tell us taxpayers it would cost an additional $1 million to furnish.

I feel it is time that our city administration started using cost-cutting methods, as all businesses have had to do over the past few years. We see people losing jobs, businesses closing, factories closing, top management scaling down, and all I see is spend, spend, spend from our current administration. What cost-cutting methods has the city taken in the past two years? If we are in need of money, why don’t each of you council members and the mayor take the $150,000 in your district and return it to the general fund budget. This is $1 million that could go a long way in future planning.

What we need are some good, sound business practices put in place by our mayor and council. Please don’t continue to burden the taxpayers without proper reason and purpose.



Sincerely,

David Burroughs

Athens