Thanks for being such a great host
It is time for us to say goodbye to our friends in Chattanooga, not knowing whether we will come back someday. After almost three years in this wonderful city, we are heading back to our hometown in Emden, Germany.
We want to say thank you to everyone for being a great "host."
We enjoyed every minute of our time in the U.S. We visited several places, but Tennessee and the city of Chattanooga are somehow special. It all starts with the people and their Southern hospitality. No matter where we went, everyone was friendly, offered help and showed interest in our thoughts and points of view.
Chattanooga is a great place to live. You are gifted with a breathtaking nature, lots of sun and for us a top ranked quality of life. You have the mountains, the Tennessee River, forest areas everywhere, and you can be proud of how Chattanooga has developed in the last decades.
All this made it easy for us to live more than 4,700 miles apart from our family and friends in Germany. Thank you very much for a wonderful time. We would love to come back someday.
DIETER, INA, GERO AND NICO SCHLEIFER
Prevent cancer by getting checked
March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. As one affected by colorectal cancer, I write to urge my friends and neighbors to get screened.
In August of 2010, I was your average Chattanooga housewife. That is, until I was diagnosed with Stage III colon cancer. Today I am cancer-free! But -- I would much rather say, "I prevented cancer with early detection" than have to say, "After seven months of chemotherapy, now, I'm cancer-free."
Colorectal cancer will claim over 50,000 lives in 2012, making it the second leading cause of death from cancer. Too often, individuals don't get screened because they are afraid of the procedure and are diagnosed with late-stage colon cancer -- like me.
Saturday, March 24, at Coolidge Park we are having the annual Get Your Rear In Gear 5K Run/Walk. Go online to pre-register at getyourrearingear.com and click on the link for the Chattanooga event. Registration is from 7:30-10 a.m.. The race starts at 9 a.m., walk starts at 11:15! I hope to see everyone there!
Remember, a colonoscopy beats chemotherapy any day of the week!
Get checked!
KRISTI HOLCOMB
Driver training will save lives
In an editorial (Feb. 21), one of the recommendations was that local agencies must develop new strategies to implement safe teen driving habits. Here in Chattanooga, we have done just that.
The City of Chattanooga Drivers Education Program, funded by photo enforcement revenue, not tax dollars, began with an inaugural class of 40 students, met at the Brainerd Community Center in November 2009. Now the program has held 30 classes at 13 different community centers and graduated over 1,000 students. The classes are offered year-round to Chattanooga residents ages 15-22 and meet at selected city community centers. Each class offered has been filled to capacity. They are taught by state certified driving instructors and provide 30 hours of classroom training, including guest presentations by an assortment of local traffic safety professionals and law enforcement officers. Each student then receives six hours of behind-the-wheel training with an individual instructor.
Because Chattanooga has responsibly and appropriately designated traffic camera money to provide an opportunity for its youngest drivers to receive professional defensive driving instruction, we can reasonably and appropriately expect to see crash statistics involving teen drivers continue to decline. That means saved lives and safer roads for all of us. And that is great news.
CAROLINE JOHNSON
Drivers Education Coordinator
City of Chattanooga Traffic Engineering Division
Headline too direct, hurtful
Fie! Shame on you! As if the family of the two boys killed in the go-kart accident did not have enough sadness and sorrow to deal with, there on Sunday's (Feb. 26) issue on the front page in bold black letters was unneeded information to be dealt with at such a difficult time.
News is news and we want to know facts and get proper information, but is there not a time for compassion and consideration of your readers' feelings even when presenting news? Too bad the headline had to be so direct and not given a less hurtful slant for the family.
Each of us is entitled to our opinion, whether voiced or not. I speak for this grieving family.
JOAN TRANTHAM
Whitwell, Tenn.
Haynes shows his integrity
As a business owner in Hixson, I encourage the people of Hixson and Middle Valley to vote for a man of honesty and integrity for commissioner of District 3, Marty Haynes.
There are two instances when I saw Marty display his true character while campaigning. One was when he knocked on a voter's door. After introducing himself, the person began to criticize his opponent. Marty stopped the man and said, "Well, I'm not here to talk about my opponent. I am here to tell you about Marty Haynes." The second was when a supporter called to say that someone had put his opponent's sign on his private property. He asked Marty what to do with the sign. Marty told him to lay the sign down and put a note on it that it was on private property. These two instances were when there were no reporters or television cameras around. I believe this is the type of character that the people of District 3 want and deserve in their county commissioner.
RANDY FAIRBANKS
Editorial didn't better anything
Shame on the owner of the pickup truck (editorial, Feb. 28), however shame, shame on you! I understand there are idiots who can hardly find their way home and only care about self. Is that a surprise, if so to whom?
The bigger concern is with your editorial. I would think you would want the best for city, state, country and world. What in the world were you trying to do? Perhaps, stir the pot and advance your agenda.
I agree with you on some things, but what positive impact writing about this horrible event could possibly do to better anything?
A watched pot never boils, or maybe it will.
PETE GIBSON
Dogs have a right that people don't
My son just called me to say that Rudi (our dog) had to be euthanized. Needless to say we all are grieving the loss of this family member. He was a black lab that has been in the family for approximately 10 years.
Sure gonna miss him. However, he left this world with minimum suffering and dignity. He had a right that I do not have. With Parkinson's I live with the possibility of living too long. I can only hope that in years to come, (and I hope it's a lotta years), that if the disorder catches up with me so that I am rendered completely helpless, that I will have the right to have my life ended with dignity and minimum suffering. As of now, our freedoms are (literally) going to the dogs.
F. DOUG CRAIG
GOP got what it asked for
As the primaries grew to a close in 2010, I mustered a little hope that our leadership changes would have a positive and beneficial effect. The Tea Party was scaring the pants off career politicians. Too many of the tyrant minded incumbents still remained(s). Then my hopes suddenly grew negative again as the pseudo leadership of our nation took another downturn. The Republican National Senate Committee wanted their 20-year veteran senator, Michael Castle, to win the primary in Delaware. But the people of Delaware voted and nominated Christine O'Donnell, a Tea Party favorite. That action of "We the People" of Delaware was criticized by the RNSC and ultimately cost Christine O'Donnell the Senate seat in her state. A bit of Democratic irony enters the picture here. The Republicans got what they asked for, and deserved.
The Republican state of Georgia has maintained its leadership in supporting illegal aliens refusing to defend the state (HB87 fiasco) against illegal laborers taking jobs that citizens need. "Promises made by politicians are as worthless as fools gold." Save your tea bags for 2012, we're gonna' need 'em.
LAWRENCE HEADRICK
Tunnel Hill, Ga.