The News Courier encourages letters to the editor. Submissions should be no more than 400 words and include name, address and telephone number for verification. Submissions that do not meet requirements are subject to editing. Writers are limited to one published letter every 30 days. Send letters to P.O. Box 670, Athens AL 35613 or email to adam@athensnews-courier.com.

‘Threads’ a success

Dear Editor:

On behalf of the board of directors of the Alabama Veterans Museum & Archives, I would like to thank Marlene and Wes Isom of Isom’s Orchard for their generous support of the museum with the Threads of Honor Quilt.

I would also like to thank everyone who is working on the quilt and all that purchased “threads,” because of everyone’s generosity this has been our most successful fundraiser ever.

The idea came to Marlene when she was attending a quilt show and saw a similar antique quilt dedicated to veterans. When she was approached about doing one of their famous “dinner in the orchard” fundraisers, she said she had a perfect idea for a different kind of fundraiser. After she met with museum board members, “Threads of Honor” was born.

Veterans’ names and other military information will be hand-stitched by local quilters on quilting squares and these squares will then be put together to form a quilt that will hang in perpetuity in the Alabama Veterans Museum.

I am happy to report that to date all, centers, stars, stripes and arcs have been purchased! However, there is still time to honor your beloved Veterans with a ray, which can be purchased for a $25. The quilt will be unveiled on Veterans Day, Nov 11.

All proceeds from the event will be used to fund the future expansion of our museum. I would also like to thank the entire community for their continued support of our veterans and of the museum. This is certainly a community that cherishes their veterans, and we could not do what we do without you.

Sincerely,

Sandra Thompson, director

Alabama Veterans Museum & Archives

About Plan B

Dear Editor:

I’m glad the local leaders are now going to do the planning and squeezing every dollar to improve our schools that they should have done in the first place.

They wasted two years trying to take the easy way out, just to hang another tax on us when they could have been exercising Plan B already. If they are threatening us with an additional 1-cent sales tax hike, then they didn’t hear the loud bang of the voters when their property tax hike hit the ground. Their time in office could do the same.

As for “outside influences,” that insults the voters of Athens. We know when our leaders are taking shortcuts at our expense. They need to watch their money and budget appropriately like the rest of us do to meet our obligations.

One other thing. Where is the liquor tax money in all this? Didn’t we allow liquor sales in Athens to “help our schools”?

Sincerely,

Richard Brock

Athens

Proud of vote

Dear Editor:

Congratulations Athens — oftentimes special elections have small turnouts, but on Tuesday, a very high percentage of voters came out to the polls, which was a great thing.

People paid attention and were involved in this vote. It means that the people of Athens spoke up for what they wanted. Sixty-two percent is a resounding “no” to more taxes. There are those who want us to be ashamed of how the vote turned out, but I would say the direct opposite is true. We can be proud.

We shouldn’t be ashamed of how the vote turned out. Take a drive by the school’s central office building on U.S. 31. It is new. Why was this built before an elementary school? Continue your drive by the new city hall. It is also being built before a new high school.

The city government owns property all around town. As you drive by most city buildings, you will see nice government owned cars and trucks sitting outside. Yet our kids are in old buildings? Again, who should be ashamed?

In recent years, we have added an alcohol tax, as well as an added percent to the sales tax. Shouldn’t more of this have gone to the schools if they were in dire straits? Who should be ashamed?

Why do our elected and appointed officials feel the need to place blame on the residents of Athens for saying we will not reward overspending and fiscal irresponsibility when the evidence says otherwise.

In case city officials aren’t feeling it, this is a rough economic time. The people of Athens are feeling this as they are forced to tighten their belts. There is no shame in living within our budgets. In fact it shows the wisdom of our citizens to say more tax money does not solve problems.

Yes Athens, I firmly believe we can hold our heads up high and be proud.

Sincerely,

Jack Hall

Athens