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Letters to the Editor

Council disregards Jasper's citizens

By SHERI BEARD
Jasper

I have never in all my life witnessed such a blatant disregard for the citizens of our community as I did the night of Nov. 13.

I was one of several that attended an orchestration of a fiasco they called "The City Council Meeting."

Several items were on the agenda that needed prompt attention. Thank God the council actually had a moment of lucidity and took care of what the city had done to the Gilgal Baptist Church.

In my eyes the city manager has a full time job, period. We have in place a Chamber of Commerce whose responsibility and full time job is to promote tourism. They have the experience and knowledge to negotiate contracts to bring major tournaments to our community which, in turn, generates enormous revenue.

Why does the City Council insist on giving the Chamber's responsibility to someone whose plate is already overwhelmed?

Excuse me, I thought we lived in a democratic world not one of a dictatorship

Council leading Jasper to slow death

By BRIAN A. MCCLAIN
Jasper

I think that one of the requirements for running for public office should be a common sense test.

Why, you ask? I just attended the monthly meeting of the Jasper City Council. If ever there was a display of the total lack of common sense, this was it.

There were several motions on the agenda, of which two gave the council a chance to do the right thing for the citizens of Jasper. The first, being a motion to use the hotel/motel tax revenue to construct and maintain a community center.

The second motion was to return the control of the tax dollars generated from the hotel/motel tax to the chamber of commerce.

The first motion was tabled as the council felt more study was needed. One must wonder where is the funding of this study coming from? Could it be the hotel/motel taxes? If so, would the chamber of commerce have recommended this study?

Also, who will be receiving this money to conduct this study and who will benefit from it? It seems to me there was a study done in the past on this subject.

The second motion, after much testimony by concerned citizens and local business owners in support of the motion, was voted down.

It would seem the city council in all its wisdom has put itself in the business of promoting the tourism industry. An industry which neither the council members, nor the city's review board, has the knowledge or experience to administer.

By removing the control of the tourism industry from the chamber of commerce, an organization whose purpose and business is the promotion of tourism, they have almost certainly doomed the tourism business in Jasper to a slow and painful death. And possibly a slow death of a small business.

Veterans still forgotten at times

By DAVID HARIGLE
Jasper

As a veteran, I want to send out a big "thank you" to JHS Theatre for a great Veterans' Day program. I know many vets agree with me.

It seems the veteran is being forgotten and looked down on. Think not? Look at the movies and music. It's not bad enough that they are made but made number one by viewers.

Look at the government. Check VA hospitals and the care. Check the disabilities that have been cut off or reduced. Look at the co-payment, which can only be paid by the veteran.

Mine for three prescriptions was $72; the same medicine at the pharmacy would cost me $9. There is more than you can put in one letter, but what is the government's answer? Same as always, "We'll look into it."

What are veterans organizations in this area doing? Do you see flags in the cemetery? What about programs at Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, PIA POW Day, Veterans Day and so on?

I belonged to one organization, but after Rita I dropped it. Seems their paper wrote about their help in Texas. I wrote stating I had seen none in Jasper. Seems someone else wrote a letter also, making mine lying. I even asked for help. None!!!

When I moved to Texas I was on a non-service pension. The VA here just cut it off, no exam or paperwork.

They talk about depression. It's not the war that caused it. It's what they have to put up with once they are home. Even the ones that come back home in one piece can find no help.

As I said before, there is more to this than I can put in one letter. You may call me angry, mad, and so on. No, I'm just disappointed. This is not the America we fought and some died for.

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