Murder puts fight on enemy’s turf
Pastor David Harrison Strong’s brutal murder should sound an alarm that it’s time to fight the enemy on their turf.
Pastor Strong was beaten and tortured by someone he cared about and by another person he never knew, yet he welcomed them both in his home.
Rev. Strong had only recently preached the eulogy for two young men who were lifelong members of St. Paul AME Church, who like him, were killed in home invasions.
My dad is also a pastor who knew Rev. Strong well. Is the most likely person to victimize my dad someone he has helped and is now down on their luck?
I applaud the involved and concerned parent who stepped up against her own son to say that something is not right here. She even notified the police early on. She dispelled a fleeting thought about organizing a posse of concerned citizens to do a drive-by.
This has outraged and tensed the community! No one is looking forward to Halloween. As a matter of fact, the city should issue an ordinance forbidding strangers from your property unless previously arranged. There are perceived dangers for your child and for the residents.
Instead of a day set aside for fear, let’s honor Rev. Strong by devoting it to making our surroundings secure. How about “Strong-Home Security Day?” Merchants could make as much selling security items as costumes.
VALITUS EDWARDS SR.
Focus on children as well as housing
Re: the front page article “At Long last, hope” (Oct. 11).
I found your deep concern for funding source to guarantee housing for all very interesting.
Where is your concern for the 15-year-old who was a rape victim?
She couldn’t have been more than 14 when she had sex if her child is 3 months old, and a 14-year-old can’t consent to sex. Maybe the reporter should look into these children’s well-being, not the housing vouchers.
NANCY RICE
Calhoun, Ga.
Knowles should repay county
Hamilton County should be compensated for hours spent on personal business that Alan Knowles admitted, using county computer and e-mail during work hours to run his private non-profit business, Dove Ministries Inc.
What is a fair way to compensate Hamilton County government (that is funded by taxpayers) for time Alan spent on personal business? One way is to establish the number of hours spent each week on personal business and subtract that from his salary.
The restitution by Alan Knowles should be paid by Dove Ministries, since Alan earned $157,345 since 2007 as president of Dove Ministries.
It is also apparent that Dan Wade, Public Works administrator and Alan Knowles’ supervisor, was not doing his job in supervising Alan Knowles or he would have known that Alan was not using his full-time and best effort as superintendent of support services for the Public Works Department.
Alan Knowles stated he was a Christian and he should desire to do the Christian thing. It is that simple – pay unto Caesar what is Caesar’s (Hamilton County government).
Think about it this way: If you don’t really live your Christian beliefs, then you really don’t believe them.
RICHARD WEST
Krugman wrong on tunnel project
Re: Paul Krugman’s “The end of the tunnel” column (Oct. 9).
I’m no fan of Paul Krugman. I shake my head every time I read his articles, and now in this article about the New Jersey tunnel project he thinks Chris Christie was wrong to cancel the tunnel project.
When will Mr. Krugman and his liberal friends realize that the majority of Americans want the spending to stop until America gets back on its feet. We cannot keep borrowing for projects like this until we can afford to pay it back.
I need a new truck, but I have to keep repairing mine until I can afford a new one. That is what Mr. Krugman must start to understand.
TOM FRICKE
Spring City, Tenn.
It’s unfair that there’s no SS raise
It is long past time for ACLU – or someone else representing the seniors of our population – to sue the federal government for their theft from our Treasury Department.
2010 has been the first year, since Social Security began, that the elderly have been cheated out of a cost-of-living increase of benefits but the Congress and bureaucrats got their raise! Unjustified and unjustifiable.
We are now informed that we – who need it most, and have worked for and paid into Social Security – are to be deprived – again. There is a probability that the Congress and the bureaucrats will be rewarded with another sizable pay raise at our expense.
Please, let us of the voting public keep this in the forefront of our minds when we go to the polls to cast our ballots next month.
WILLIAM P. CORBIN
Crossville, Tenn.
Kyriakidis ready to field questions
The following appeared on John Wolfe’s website:
“Where in The World Is Chuck Fleischmann?
“In Tennessee’s Third Congressional District the Republican Candidate for Congress is pulling a disappearing act. He is seen only on the pages of Facebook and heard through his Twitter Tweets. He will not return phone calls nor is he responding to the accusations of his opponent John Wolfe.”
I can’t help but wonder if “Chuck” is a plant of some sort, attempting to make Republicans look like idiots. In any case, this disappearing act of his has cemented my determination to vote for Savas Kyriakidis, a man of integrity who understands the issues, supports the Constitution and who is readily accessible to those who have questions for him.
ARLENE MICHELLE
Elect Lambert East Ridge mayor
I want to share some reasons why I support Brent Lambert for East Ridge mayor.
First, Brent clearly is the most qualified candidate for the job. I mean no disrespect to the other candidates, but I feel certain that Brent is the only candidate who holds a master’s degree related to city management. He has served honorably on the City Council and has proven that he is not afraid to take a stand and make very difficult decisions.
Secondly, he is a man committed to his faith and his family. Brent is a long-time member of the Spring Creek Road Baptist (Church), where he served as deacon for the last 10 years.
He is a devoted husband and father to his wife and children and a loyal friend to many.
Lastly, he has the energy and positive vision to help East Ridge move forward. Brent is an intelligent, honorable man who we can trust to do the right thing. I encourage all East Ridge residents to vote Lambert for mayor!
DIANA HOLLAND
Cagle is choice in Soddy-Daisy
If you want to know what kind of person Janice Cagle is, ask the people who have worked with and been associated with her in the past.
I first got to know Janice when we worked together along with many other compassionate people in the Tim Neighbors Classic. We very diligently worked in the tournament and raised over $80,000 for St. Jude Hospital in an effort to fight leukemia.
You could ask the people and customers at a local bank in Soddy; again, she was known to be very cordial and efficient in her job.
She served and worked as Soddy-Daisy city manager. Again, she served with a compassion, efficient and friendly manner.
Janice Cagle would make a great addition to the Soddy-Daisy Commission.
DON MYERS
Hixson