TVA fee hikes would harm rafting industry
Chattanooga has become an outdoor sports and recreation city because of our great outdoors. One major outdoor gem is rafting the Ocoee River, just 40 minutes away.
A UT-Knoxville 2012 study showed the rafting industry and visitor spending was over $43 million annually and created more than 600 full-time equivalent jobs. These are in jeopardy because TVA demands a tenfold increase in fees for electricity forgone putting water into the Ocoee River when the current 35-year agreement expires in 2019.
TVA says it must have this dramatic increase to save ratepayers money on their bills. The electricity from Ocoee Dam #2 is only 0.02 percent of their grid capacity. Losing that low-cost capacity for 116 days per year rafting is about 18 cents per year to a typical household.
Our electric bills are far higher from the billions TVA has lost trying to make its nuclear plants run. TVA is being disingenuous.
A flowing Ocoee River creates jobs and beauty to enjoy. The answer is federal legislation that grants back to the public its water so we can forever enjoy the Ocoee River.
John Hubbard
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Tell whole story of Howard School
“Alumni Anxious For Future” sparked my fears, not about Howard School, but about giving the news impartially without fear or favor. The March 23 article appeared to be better suited for the editorial page, where the writer is presenting an opinion.
“The baseball team was put on the chopping block” failed to report only four boys went out for baseball and no more could be recruited. Interviewing a single student presented just one opinion and a biased viewpoint, hardly an impartial explanation.
“Build Me a World: The Story of The Howard School” (2012) gave one account of Howard School. As a member of the audience, I thought, so what is next?
The future of Howard School and other Hamilton County schools should be a hot topic at NAACP meetings. This way, NAACP members have the power to create an agenda providing full support for all public schools.
Yes, Howard School is changing, and the opportunity to embrace diversity is a positive addition to any school. The time is ripe to support the achievements of the students and dedication of the faculty.
Truly, Howard School deserves front-page coverage that reflects this side of the story.
Margaret M. Smith, Signal Mountain
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Standing for those without insurance
I am one of those persons who has regularly participated in the marches to Sen. Gardenhire’s office.
Yes, Sen. Gardenhire, I am a Democrat, but I am protesting your line of thinking because I am a Christian. I have a moral responsibility to help all people have a better life than some are experiencing now.
I, like you, am fortunate enough to have good health insurance coverage. I am not protesting to help myself but for those 280,000 citizens that will benefit from Insure Tennessee.
Vivian Dodds