Praise for hospital

Dear Editor:

I recently had a stay in Athens-Limestone Hospital’s emergency room, and then four days in the hospital.

None of us wants to go for a stay in a hospital. I can say, though, from my recent experience we can’t find anywhere any better or maybe as good as Athens-Limestone Hospital.

The personnel on the third floor were caring and prompt. They gave loving, kind attention all the time. I couldn’t find a better place to go, I am sure, than our Athens-Limestone Hospital. The food is better than one usually gets, also.

I have nothing but gratitude for the loving care I received there. I highly recommend it if you have to go to the hospital.

It is right here and our family doesn’t have to travel far.

Sincerely,

Marjorie Walker

Athens

City needs marketing help

Dear Editor:

Late last month, I had a meeting with the mayor and two city councilmen regarding financial data related to the city and the budget. The mayor did an in-depth review, which better clarified the impact of the city’s contribution to the cost of the new high school.

It was also explained that the city council is not funding agencies and programs that don’t provide detailed financial reports of their use of their funds. A very good step in the right direction.

Our council was wise in its choice to provide assistance in recruiting retail businesses, but need better planning and marketing capability. I wrote the widely read study, “The Search For A Thousand Million Dollars,” about retail food marketing while an associate with the international business consulting firm A.T. Kearney & Co.

Athens is going to be fighting for its future as a well-rounded city, not a bedroom suburb. This will require a very experienced individual who can follow-up, initiate and implement programs regarding Athens sales tax revenue base. The city’s current level of planning/marketing expertise is sadly lacking the necessary knowledge and experience to successfully perform this to quickly achieve meaningful long-term results and programs.

Athens cannot wait any longer with an ineffective loose cannon that isn’t competent or qualified to grab this challenge by the horns and wrestle it to a successful result. This will require a new highly experienced and competent person to hit the ground running to achieve our long-term goals, and it may take some time to find this individual.

Athens will succeed with a determined and a well thought-out attitude. The city council with its new members is taking good positive steps in this direction. Citizens must act to get this personnel matter successfully resolved.

Please pray for Councilman Jimmy Gill, who is ill. He has been a councilman for over 20 years and is a local leader.

Sincerely,

Quentin D. Anderson

Athens

Enough with the pandering

Dear Editor:

I am enjoying this primary. I’ve watched the politicians over my years very closely, and all but one let me down somewhere along the way.

But this season the old ways of pandering are dead on arrival. There are only two Republican candidate that are not pandering. One of them is too laid back to garner trust to lead in a way that bolsters the American brand. The other is following my favorite politician’s advice and speaking in bold colors, not pale pastels.

Like him in his time, he brought vacant voters off their couches, won the unions and Democrats and independents flocked to vote for him. And the professional panderers fought him all the way to the convention. At the convention, he was forced to take his main rival that had said some tough things about him, but he took him anyway to galvanize the party. He won a historic landslide twice.

Not being a smooth talker from Hollywood, my candidate is very similar. Yes, he sounds different than the other guys in his tough talk, but that is so refreshing in itself for me who is sick of being pandered to and lied to by men saying things that can’t be done or won’t be done.

It was over 25 years ago Republicans promised a wall between Mexico and the U.S. Abortion is still being funded by tax dollars after 40-plus years. The IRS has needed reform for more than 40 years and on and on.

Face it citizens — we need real change. Common sense rules.

Sincerely,

William Lindsey

Athens

Seniors beware

Dear Editor:

When or if someone you do not know does some work for you, check them out.

If they keep telling you or a loved one they are not ripping you off, they probably are.

Sincerely,

Danny R. Gilliam

Athens