Letters to the Editor

Reply to angry liberal’s hateful letter

A letter in response to the angry liberal in The Citizen Feb. 6, 2013.

First a critique: learn to encapsulate your thoughts and get your message across succinctly. If I may, it seems to me your response to the question why nearly 100 percent of African-Americans voted for Obama could have been stated so, “All Republicans are sub-human, racist, knuckle-dragging, lying children of Satan himself and Obama is in fact the son of God.”

See, your message in far fewer words! Read More»

Lum letter mean-spirited, racist

Last week The Citizen published an article that I found appalling and offensive. It was titled, “Why do blacks block vote? Let’s count reasons,” written by Deborah Lum.

Her article, or more correctly her diatribe, was filled with a tremendous amount of mean-spirited and denigrating accusations and hypocrisies. Let’s start with some of Deborah Lum’s mean-spirited and denigrating accusations to set the stage.

“The essence of the Republican Party has been quite unambiguous, thanks to ambassadors of intolerance, dishonesty, incompetence, negativity, bigotry, chicanery, and the asinine.” Read More»

Pike County columnist: ‘Save Brooks Elementary School’

[Editor’s note: The following first appeared as an opinion column in the Pike County (Ga.) Journal Reporter. The paper is the legal organ for Pike County.]

Just north of Pike County is a place I cherish. It is the small town of Brooks. I grew up there, stumped my toes there and went to school there. It is a community in south Fayette County that is a piece of my heart.

Last week I attended the Fayette County Board of Education meeting to plead for them to keep the Brooks Elementary school doors open. Read More»

Take time to respond to PTC service needs survey

This week, 1,200 Peachtree City residents, randomly selected, will receive our letter requesting that they take an on-line survey seeking their opinion on city services and the cost to provide those services.

We ask that if you are one of those households, you take the time to complete this important survey.

In September 2012, Mayor [Don] Haddix formed the Peachtree City Needs Assessment Committee to gather citizen input on the Peachtree City budget. Read More»

Elderly car tag buyer shown kindness in line

On Monday, Feb. 4, 3 p.m. I entered the tag office on my walker. There were 11 people ahead of me in line.

Shortly after, a gentleman behind me told me to sit down and he will be sure I get my turn. I thanked him but declined.

Next thing I knew the 10 people in front of the line told me to go to the front ahead of all of them.

I am writing to tell how compassionate and kind all those people waiting patiently were. I’m sure all had important things to do but they graciously told me to go in front. I did get in the front line and thanked all those kind people. Read More»

Clarification: Hwy. 54 gym will not close

This is a clarification to last week’s article in The Citizen concerning World Gym and its location on Ga. Highway 54.

The newspaper quoted an information packet from the city of Peachtree City that owner “(Dar) Thompson said he plans to close the current World Gym location ...”

That statement is premature, and subject to mis-interpretation.

First of all, Mr. Thompson and I are still in negotiation to renew his lease that expires at the end of this year. If that negotiation is unsuccessful, he will possibly construct a new gym in Lexington Circle. Read More»

Prayer didn’t seem to help previous BoE

In regards to Bonnie Willis’ column about needing more than a moment of silence to fix the school issues, well, quite simply, until recently the school board has had a prayer at the beginning of their meetings, and it hasn’t done much to help them resolve the serious issues that seem to perennially plague them. Read More»

Brown: Fayette’s future is brighter

Fayette County is in the midst of a significant shift change. Although the process can be bumpy at times, I see a great deal of positive movement.

Sometime ago, I had met with some of our economic development people and determined that residential and retail shopping was not what we needed in the southern end of the West Fayetteville Bypass area. Read More»

Haddix: Despite council majority’s assertions, PTC taxes keep going up

Let me take this opportunity to expound upon recent [Peachtree City] Council actions.

On WASA, I am not going to dig into the particulars of every comment made or responses after the meeting. But a few comments are worth mentioning. Read More»

Fayette schools need less advice and more money due from the state

Recently Mr. Scott Austensen from the state Department of Education came to talk with our board regarding Fayette County Board of Education finances. In that discussion, Mr. Austensen advised our board that 10 percent of budget or $14-16 million would be a good fund balance.

I agree with Mr. Austensen that it is necessary to build a better fund balance, but I do not believe it is achievable in one year without drastic and unnecessary reductions in our excellent Fayette County public schools. Read More»