Knowles respected and trustworthy
I remember asking a lot of questions when I first began to exercise my right to vote. There was one specific election I talked about with my father, Charlie Scealf, in 1974. This election included three gentlemen vying for county court clerk: Leon Haley, Bill Knowles and Luke Wilson.
He told me he was voting for Bill Knowles. I asked his reasons.
One of Daddy’s friends was Creed Headrick, who had known Mr. Knowles personally for many years. Creed knew him to be a well-respected and trustworthy individual, and I joined my father in supporting Mr. Knowles.
I now know Mr. Knowles as “Bill” and have known him and his wife, Marlene, for more than 20 years. I concur with my father’s friend that Bill is trustworthy, and that is a vital characteristic for anyone who aspires to public office. Bill has been honored by his peers for advancements he has initiated within the clerk’s office, and he has received numerous awards from the National Association of Counties.
So if my children ask my opinion on whom they should support in the county court clerk’s race, without hesitation I will tell them that I will vote for my friend, Bill Knowles.
VICKI SCEALF DAUGHERTY
What has happened to the old South?
Greetings from Michigan!
What in the name of Robert E. Lee has happened to the old, proud South? As a child traveling with my parents through the Southern states on the way to Florida, we would stop at many Civil war museums, battlefields and retail stores specializing in Civil War gifts and collectibles. There were Confederate flags everywhere, in front of restaurants, motels/hotels, stores and residences.
On a recent trip to the South, I found that those days are gone.
Do all of you not know that the war was fought over states’ rights and limiting but not eliminating the power of the federal government?
Or do you believe the war was about slavery and the “evil Southerners”?
Can you not see that the present-day economic and social mess this country is in is because the Southern states tried to continue in the footsteps of the Founding Fathers and were crushed?
Get your pride back, forget political correctness, fly the Confederate flag again and say out loud to the rest of the country “we told you so!”
TOM JANTZ
Arnold can make a real difference
Residents of East Ridge have an opportunity to elect an exceptional candidate in the upcoming school board race.
I’ve read Dean Arnold’s book, “Old Money, New South: The Spirit of Chattanooga,” and refer to it from time to time with regard to any number of local subjects of interest. His grasp of our community and the quality of public education’s impact on a city are right on the mark.
Our children are our future. We need schools that provide them with opportunities to learn, advance and contribute to the sustainability and future of our city. Dean is forward thinking, understands the need for change, and is ready to roll up his sleeves to improve our schools and community.
As an engineer and MBA graduate, I understand the importance of education. We are fortunate to have Dean on the ballot. Let’s take advantage of the opportunity to seat a candidate who can make a real difference. We need improvements in our school system today — we need Dean Arnold now.
Vote for Dean Arnold on Aug. 5.
KEVIN N. RAYNOR
East Ridge
Boycotting BP would hurt many
Two reasons why we should not boycott BP:
It might hasten BP’s filing for bankruptcy and make it impossible for those who should be compensated for their loss caused by BP to receive the financial help they deserve.
It could shut down a number of BP stations, causing loss of jobs for many who had nothing to do with BP’s corporate negligence.
I will continue to purchase gas at BP as long as there is evidence that the company in good faith is paying for the mistakes they should have avoided.
LYNN SAULS
Overall, Riverbend very entertaining
Thanks, Chattanooga, for a great Riverbend. What a great festival for our city. All the entertainment on the main stage was wonderful. Charley Daniels gave a superior concert to climax the week and the fireworks were fantastic. It was also enjoyable to go from stage to stage and listen to the different types of bands. Some old, some new. The only suggestion is to eliminate some of the language that was used on Thursday’s main stage. This is a family festival not meant for offensive language. Thanks again for a great and enjoyable week.
TOM BUKOWSKI
Hixson
Police response deserves praise
I awoke June 21 at 3 a.m. to find that there were intruders in my home in Ridgeside. Fortunately, my yelling scared them, and my family was able to lock themselves in a safe location, where my daughter called 911.
I am pleased to say that the East Ridge police were at my house within four minutes of our phone call. They were professional and thorough during a very traumatic experience.
You may not know that the city of Ridgeside contracts with the East Ridge Police Department for police protection, since we are a separate community surrounded by Chattanooga. I know that I certainly appreciate the East Ridge Police’s prompt response and reassuring presence.
ROBERT BIRES
Gather to alter sources of fuel
Hello readers of all political and religious backgrounds, of unique profiles and of all persuasions.
Noon Saturday, join hands with us on the Walnut Street Bridge for 15 minutes of contemplative awareness about alternative energy and why we should be leaders toward development of sustainable energy. The flow of fossil fuel will end and we need alternatives. We hold hands to say no to offshore drilling and to raise awareness about clean energy as future fuel. We must create a clean energy avenue now.
We gather, not in protest (as the article on page one of the B section from June 25th’s paper suggests), but as peaceful humans recognizing that our use of fossil fuels must change; as people ready to accept that we must develop options now to keep our only true home, Earth, livable. It is our legacy to the future.
Today, a friend lost her teenage daughter after a boating accident. Some time ago, they had allowed her to become an organ donor, at her request. Great sadness and great foresight. This teenager leaves legacy, holding other lives’ sacred.
We must be ready for some minor sacrifices if we are to hold Earth and all who come after us … sacred.
CAARA STONEY
Congressman dips to new low
Republican Joe Barton hit a new low in extreme partisan politics when he apologized to Tony Hayward and BP during congressional hearings. Rather than commend our president for securing a pledge from BP of $20 billion as a down payment to help relieve the suffering of Gulf Coast residents in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida as a result of the disastrous oil spill, the Texas congressman said he was “ashamed of what took place in the White House” and characterized the negotiations for financial reparations as a “shakedown.”
Congressman Barton should be ashamed but not of what took place in the White House. He should be ashamed that he was willing to use such a lame excuse to attack our president and cozy up to British Petroleum at the expanse of American citizens whose way of life has been shattered by this environmental disaster. I wonder if he would have made this ridiculous apology if the tar balls were washing up at Galveston, Corpus Christi and Padre Island.
This kind of knee-jerk partisan reaction is discouraging. When will the members of Congress get past this kind of petty bickering and get on with dealing with the real problems facing our country?
THE REVEREND H. HUNTER HUCKABAY JR
Will protesters drive to bridge?
The Times Free Press article “Hands across the sand” (June 23) jumped out at me in big bold letters. Under the title was the picture of those two lovely ladies with big smiles. They want to ban offshore drilling, and I respect their view on a drilling ban.
However, I do not agree with that view since the whole world economy is dependent on the energy we derive from oil. If the government had not “pushed” the oil companies into the deep waters we would not have this terrible spill we now have. We would most likely be drilling in ANWAR where an incident like the one in the Gulf would have been capped within a couple of hours.
Those ladies, and their fellow protesters, will have gotten from their respective homes to the Walnut Street Bridge. I wonder if they are going to walk, ride their bikes or ride a horse? Surely they would not use a nasty old internal combustion-driven form of transportation.
CHARLIE BENSON
Commend officer for doing his duty
The cartoon headed “Chattanooga Crime Guide” is yet another opinion about a person’s willful disregard for the laws of the state of Tennessee and the public’s backing of such things. Be real – drowning or being shot is not the same as what happened with Mr. Wright! Hello – Mr. Wright ignored Officer Daves’ lights/siren to pull over. Then he pushed the officer away once at the emergency room. If he’d stopped and told the officer at any time what was going on he would have been assisted. Instead of saving his wife’s life, he could have killed her or any other person who wasn’t paying attention at the intersections through which he drove.
Mr. Wright broke the law and to have all charges dropped is ridiculous. Instead of being ridiculed, Officer Daves should be commended on doing his duty of protecting the people of Chattanooga.
LINDA O’GUYNN
Spring City, Tenn.
Tree-lined streets feed city’s warmth
I can’t help being struck by the “feel” of downtown Chattanooga. My mind comes up with words like “natural,” “gracious,” and “comfortable.”
Is this feeling a part of the reason retirees are moving to Chattanooga? Did it help attract VW and Alstom to select our city? Is it partly responsible for the booming construction activity in our central city?
My mind asks “why?” and searches the physical aspects of our downtown environment that brought this feeling of warmth and hospitality that didn’t exist 10 or 15 years ago.
A searching brain quickly comes face to face with one word – trees. A massive contribution has been made to our city’s warmth by the hundreds – or maybe thousands – of trees that line our streets while they feed our souls and give a special love of nature. And, a special quality of trees is that, unlike us mortals, they always get better with time.
We toast with thanks those who made it happen – the dreamers of the Riverwalk, the City Parks Department, the Chattanooga Tree Commission, the planters of “Take Root,” Leadership Chattanooga’s “Green Team”; but most of all Gene Hyde, our city’s arborist who led our city to its feeling of gracious hospitality.
JACK MCDONALD