A gentle answer turns away wrath
If we all would start thinking less of ourselves and thinking more of others, it would cut out a lot of violence. Stop lying. Do not cheat anyone. Do not steal from anyone. Do not even think of killing anyone. Instead of bullying, making fun of or shunning people, tell people in a kind and gentle way how to improve themselves so more people will like them.
If you have a disagreement, remain calm. Do not be disagreeable. Do not shout even if you are yelled at first. Problems are solved easier when there is calmness during a disagreement. Remember what Proverbs 15:1 in the Bible says: "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."
Use the words "please" and "thank you," "excuse me" and "I am sorry," often. Remember, always use the Golden Rule.
Jennifer Riggins Bradford
Protecting children is adults' priority
April is Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month. Every year in Hamilton County there are hundreds of victims of child sexual abuse. It is an issue that lives in the shadows.
When children are abused, 90 percent of the time they know the perpetrator. It is a parent, coach, clergy member or family friend.
Child abuse is an adult problem. Adults perpetrate these crimes, but more importantly they are the ones who can stop it from happening in the first place. This issue is preventable.
In Hamilton County, the Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) provides wraparound services for alleged victims and their non-offending care givers.
We need to get involved because our children are vulnerable and can't protect themselves. We need to get involved because abusers won't stop until they're caught.
Someone else is not going to make that call, someone else is not going to advocate for that child. It is everyone's responsibility to stand up for children. That means believing kids when they tell you something has happened or taking a risk and calling even if you are not sure.
Kristen Pavlik McCallie
Executive Director
Children's Advocacy Center of Hamilton County
Signal does not need new projects
Dear Mayor, Town Council members and Planning Commission members,
As a resident of Signal Mountain, I am opposed to both of the two proposed requests made to rezone residential space to commercial space. Keith Corp. has submitted a proposal for 317 Cauthen Way with the intent of building a big box grocery store. Noon Development wants to build an office building at the corner of Taft Highway and Albert Road.
My opposition is based on my desire for this community to remain a quiet, low-traffic residential haven. We already have ample grocery stores and more are only 10 minutes down the mountain. And there is ample office space on the mountain that is currently vacant.
The construction and additional traffic would be an undue burden to the residents of this mountain and ultimately will change the lovely character of this mountain community.
I know from other communities similar to Signal Mountain, that once the rezoning and expansion begins, that it is very difficult to hold the line on other new developments. Now is the time for Signal Mountain's elected and appointed officials to protect this community and say no to these kinds of expansion.
Richard Ford Signal Mountain
Competition drives down infections
Competition is the enemy of complacency. The arrival of Erlanger CEO Kevin Spiegel has generated an exciting and long needed competitive energy for this region. Hopefully, this will lead to continued improvement in clinical outcomes and a reduction in hospital acquired infections (HAI) where each of our Chattanooga hospitals has been subject to Medicare reimbursement sanctions for one or more years since the program began four years ago.
More than 3,000 hospitals are reviewed annually with those ranking in the lowest quartile or having the highest frequency of HAI being subject to reimbursement sanctions or reductions in payment. The Center for Disease Control estimates approximately 1.7 million HAI occur annually in our nation's hospitals, costing nearly $20 billion and resulting in 99,000 lives lost. That is equivalent to a nearly full 300-seat airliner crashing and killing everyone on board on a daily basis.
Taking into account the acuity case mix index, reducing HAI is a superb area to compete. "Best in Class" organizations consistently deliver quality performance annually and are not subjected to Medicare reimbursement sanctions or sanctions of any kind. Our hospitals can and should achieve success!
D.E. Klasing
City streets in need of maintenance
Chattanooga taxpayers, particularly those forced into the city via annexation, are exhausted by our city council's lack of adequate infrastructure asset management regarding city roads.
The underfunding of street maintenance and rehabilitation reflects our leaders' lack of concern. By my research we have about 2,300 miles of roads within the city limits. These roads have an asset value of about $2 billion. One only needs to drive through the city, and particularly Cassandra Smith Road in Hixson, to realize how our city leaders have allowed the wear and tear to continue.
Much of the funding for road maintenance has been allocated to other "feel good" projects while totally abandoning road infrastructure.
As to the horrible condition of Cassandra Smith Road, each city leader should find a copy of the plan of services presented to residents in 1972, when they were, through forced annexation, promised maintenance and rehabilitation of streets. This has not happened.
The roads we drive on are in such a deplorable condition that the residents are presented on a daily basis with an additional hidden tax - personal auto repairs. Mayor Berke and other city leaders, do you get it?
Johnny Jones Hixson
Resurrection brings hope to Christians
Recently Christians celebrated the resurrection of Jesus, which is the central belief of Christianity.
A day before Jesus was crucified; he told his disciples he would give his life for many for the forgiveness of sin. The next day he was crucified, and third day he arose from the dead.
The holy book of Islam rejected Jesus' death and resurrection. What then happened to Jesus, if he was not crucified as the Bible teaches? Muslims believe that Jesus somehow was assumed into paradise by Allah. Some Muslims believe that Jesus eventually died. They proclaimed that Jesus had escaped death on the cross and had attained the age of 120 before dying and being buried in Srinagar, Pakistan, and their leader claimed he was the second coming of Jesus.
Whatever non-Christians believe, Christians believe Jesus did die and arose from the dead. God did not send his son into the world to judge and condemn, but that the world should be saved through him.
The followers of Jesus Christ believe he died and was resurrected. Christians are hopeful people who believe suffering and death are contained within the seeds of Resurrection.
Amos Taj
Ooltewah