The tribute that you published about Jimmy Worsham was quite suitable in capturing the essence of an individual who quietly went about doing good all of his adult life.My memories go back when, as a child, I would accompany my father to the J.J. Worsham and Sons Lumber Company to get the hardware that was needed for whatever current project was on the agenda. This relationship continued into the years after I had started my own family. If I was “stumped” on a project, I found that “Mr. Jim” always had the right answer.
We shared many common interests and over the recent years, we found a continuing bond in our work in the church. He was always complimentary and encouraging toward the efforts of the men who accepted responsibility for leadership positions in worship, and was a rock when stability was needed.
He was one of those people whose spirit of kindness is still felt, even though he no longer is with us physically.
Jim Haynes
Oxford
The PCB question
Tim Zink’s recent column, “Science and the PCB Problem,” was excellent. Mr. Zink, who is the editor of Blue Ridge Press, a syndicated column focusing on Southeastern environmental issues, discussed in great detail the alarming effects of PCB exposure on the unborn, children and adults. Mr. Zink argued that “a detailed and lasting epidemiological study” of the citizens of Anniston must be conducted if we are to learn about the long-term health consequences of Monsanto’s illegal dumping of PCBs in our community. I wholeheartedly agree.Furthermore, while we are conducting this epidemiological study of PCB exposure, we also need to document the current health status of the citizens of our community before the Army begins incineration of the 2,254 tons of deadly VX, GB and Mustard gas at the chemical weapons stockpile located at the Anniston Army Depot.
The destruction process is scheduled to last for more than a decade and the EPA admits that trace amounts of dioxins, PCBs, chromium and other heavy metals and toxic substances will be emitted during the regular operation of this facility.
Only by documenting our community’s baseline health position now can we be able to determine the long-term health effects of the operation of this incinerator in a community, which has already experienced far more environmental problems than any of us could ever have imagined.
Hopefully, the destruction process will be completely successful and there will be no long-term, lasting health consequences from the incineration process.
The only way, however, to make certain that neither the Army nor Monsanto escape responsibility for their own actions is to expand the epidemiological study, which Mr. Zink and The Star have both advocated, to include a baseline health study that focuses on low-level exposure for a long period of time to the chemical agents being destroyed at AAD. I salute The Anniston Star for running this important column. Hopefully The Star will use its muscle to get the baseline study under way immediately.
James A. Dunn
Chairman, Calhoun County Commission
Greed tax
A multi-thousand Corporate Greed Tax was recently reported in an AP article, as being the amount a Securities and Exchange Commission member stated that the corporate and accounting scandals had cost the average U.S. household. These corporations and accounting firms were all members of the Chamber of Commerce and had big lobbyists in Washington.Prior to the last election the C of C ran ads about a “lawsuit tax” which apparently referred to the cost of making safe products that would not injure the consumer.
Most of the corporations who have cheated and lied to the American public will not be punished nor be sued. Call your C of C and ask for a greed tax refund. Don’t think about suing your stockbroker for your losses; you can’t because they are protected by arbitration clauses.
Look at the losses in your retirement and investment accounts and think about whom is really looking out for the consumer’s best interests.
Mike Williams, trial lawyer
Auburn
