Re "Meth recovery" (Speak Out, Aug. 24)I would like to say I appreciate this letter about Judge Gus Colvin. I have a brother-in-law that got in some trouble and an Anniston police officer wanted the book thrown at him. I did not say he didn’t do wrong, but he didn’t kill, or rob a bank or any serious crime.
Thank goodness to Judge Gus Colvin, he has now been given a chance. He will be in rehabilitation awhile and hopefully get better, and our family thanks God for this wonderful judge.
Vickie Smith
Heflin
Changing kickoff
How many high school football athletes will suffer heat stroke or die before fans and parents step up and tell the powers that be that 10 p.m. sports is not as important as a child’s life.Moving the kickoff time for high school football games from 7:30 p.m. to 7 is not acceptable. Anyone who supports this change should be held responsible for consequences due to the excessive heat.
It is obvious that there was no thought given to the welfare of the athletes of this state when reaching this decision or it would never have taken place. The so-called heat breaks have been around for some time now, so let’s not evoke that premise for this movement of the time. All parents and fans should be crying foul.
The state athletic director should be fired for supporting such an outrageous directive. Coaches and sports writers should be using their influence to reconsider this move. It seems, too, they don’t care about the athletes of this state or this wouldn’t be happening.
All this because a few want to see 10 p.m. prep show football highlights, which are repeated on Saturday anyway. Why let such a preventable tragedy occur ?
Jimmy Padgett
Ohatchee
Hurricane Pat
U.S. evangelist Pat Robertson called for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, saying the leftist leader wanted to turn his country into "the launching pad for communist infiltration and Muslim extremism."Now, if a hurricane happens to take a wild turn and hits Venezuela, killing Chavez, we’ll surely know who’s behind it all, by God.
Armond ‘Si’ Simmons
Pell City
Supporting deputies
Not one of our county commissioners see to think we deserve better law enforcement protection out in the county. Our sales tax went up two cents at one time, but none went to public safety services. My property tax is going up again, but they say they have no money.Commissions don’t have to pay for fire departments or ambulances. I saw where the average county spends 54 percent of the general fund for law enforcement, while ours about 40 percent. Money from federal inmates pays for more than half of the jail employees, saving them even more money.
I know some of the deputies and I heard how they have to serve felony warrants and answer domestic violence or other high risk calls alone.
I see deputies out working every day, but there is not enough of them. I urge the commission to pay them a better salary and budget for more deputies.
I’m told the commission buys only four cars every two years. Then why is every vehicle in the highway department, including dump trucks, replaced every two years while some deputies are driving cars with almost 200,000 miles on them?
If you support more resources for deputies, please contact your county commissioner at 241-2800.
Jason Oden
Anniston
