City impressive as bike event host
This weekend I had the good pleasure of visiting your city in order to participate in the 3 State 3 Mountain Bicycle Ride. I would just like to commend the event’s organizers and the entire city for this great ride.
I have participated in numerous bicycle rides all over the country and I have never seen one as well-organized and supported as your ride. Everything about the event was first-class from the start at Finley Stadium to the sag stops along the way.
I was particularly impressed by the support of the local police and others who helped the riders safely navigate the numerous street crossings on this 100-mile ride.
I also appreciate the patience of the motorists who had to put up with over 1,000 riders on your streets and the priority that the police gave to the cyclists which inevitably delayed some in their travels.
Thank you one and all for making this such a great event. I can tell you that we will be back to visit your city in the near future so that we can enjoy the many great attractions and the beautiful scenery that we only saw as a blur this weekend.
DOUG CONNOR
Mandeville, La.
Clean up eyesores for city’s visitors
We are portraying a mixed message to tourists visiting our city.
The main tourist exit (Fourth Street) off of Highway 27 is an eyesore. The piles of litter on the BlueCross BlueShield hillside just above the ramp along with several tents, landscaping overtaken by weeds, dead trees in the median, and the occasional abandoned shopping carts are an embarrassment.
There is so much positive feedback regarding the renaissance of the waterfront that it makes no sense to ignore the roads leading to those attractions. We shouldn’t wait or expect the local government to fix the problem; rather, every business entity that relies on the tourist dollar should be part of the solution. Start a program like Adopt a City Block Outside Your Door to Clear It, Clean It, and Spruce It Up would be a good place to start.
Let’s ensure that our “guests” will spread positive word-of-mouth advertising, not just about our attractions, but the entire area as a whole.
KIM BUTLER
Signal Mountain
Set record straight on nuclear power
In response to some inaccuracies about nuclear power in an April 29 letter referring to Sen. Lamar Alexander’s new book “Going to War in Sailboats: Why Nuclear Power Beats Windmills for America’s Green Energy Future,” which is available for free download at http://alexander.senate.gov:
1. According to the National Academy of Sciences, nuclear power is one of the cheapest carbon-free sources of electricity today. While renewables rely on federal tax credits paid for by taxpayer money for their construction, all 104 of America’s current nuclear plants were built with private funds.
2. Nuclear power doesn’t consume or divert unusually large amounts of water — one nuclear plant uses no more water than a coal or solar-thermal plant per unit of electricity produced.
3. Standing next to a nuclear plant for 20 years will give a person about as much exposure to radiation as a single chest X-ray.
4. Nuclear power is the most reliable source of electricity, producing power 90 percent of the time. In contrast, renewables only work about a third of the time (when the wind blows or the sun shines).
5. As verified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, no member of the public has ever been killed by commercial nuclear power in the United States.
MATT SONNESYN
Legislative Director
Office of
Sen. Lamar Alexander
2-year degrees also fulfill need
David Eichenthal’s essay in Sunday’s Perspective entitled “Wanted: a good start — Early help less available to kids who need it most” contained an unfortunate statement: “Simply put, a college degree is now the passport to the middle class.”
It is certainly true that additional education beyond high school is essential, but to imply that this means a college degree is necessary is not the case. Two-year programs at community colleges and technical schools also can provide the desired passport. Colleges and universities are filled with students who should have made that choice, and the programs in these institutions have been dumbed-down to accommodate them.
JOHN D. BECK
Ooltewah
Gobble stands out among candidates
We have a variety of well qualified candidates running for the 3rd District of Congress. Some well-versed in the Constitution, some proclaiming not to be politicians, some joined by the hip to the party, some tied to D.C.-based PAC’s, etc. But who can we depend on who will truly follow the main principles of the Tea Party movement and maintain the integrity and values for Tennessee and overcome that contagious disease in Washington called “Potomac Fever” few can resist?
Americans have become more astute and knowledgeable to the dirty tricks, clever clichés, and secrets the savvy politicos use to fool us. The “town meetings” last year became nightmares for Congress when confronted with an informed public.
After studying and digging as deep as possible into the candidates’ beliefs, values, strengths and weaknesses, one stood above the others, and that one is Sheriff Tim Gobble.
Please join me in supporting this outstanding family man who has the proven management and governmental skills and will give you straight answers. He will make “we the people” the real change we can be proud of.
BILL WATKINS
Ooltewah