Get serious about safety
I write this to say the broken record continues. The mass shooting in Texas in a suburban section of Houston brings more senseless loss of life. The shootings we see and hear about frequently in our inner cities across America are also horrid. Our heads of state in the Senate, Congress, all the way up to the White House must engage in this situation. Yes, a lot is on the president’s plate, but he has to know how terrible this is. Now is the time to get logical and get community safeguards enacted for us all.
NATHAN LEWIS
Backpack help needed this weekend
N.E.N.A. of Chattanooga has been filling backpacks for underprivileged children to start school with for six years now. Our coverage area is mainly in the Lookout Valley and Dade County schools. Last year we were recognized by the Dade County Board of Education. We will be having our annual collection drive this weekend at the Lookout Valley Walmart on Cummings Highway and would appreciate any support you and your community could give us. We started with two backpacks six years ago; last year we filled 128. This year we are reaching out to Davis Elementary School as well as a few in other locations that reach us by word of mouth.
BARBARA STONE
Tidwell’s collections will help county
I was pleasantly surprised to read in the Times Free Press that our Criminal Court clerk, Gwen Tidwell, has been able to save Hamilton County property taxpayers more than $6 million over the past 15 years. The article said she has been able to pay her staff’s salaries from the fees and fines paid to the clerk’s office. She also did not have to use any money from the county general fund at a time when so many government agencies seem to require more money every year. It is gratifying that since Ms. Tidwell did not need a county government appropriation for staff salaries, that money can be used for other programs (public schools and public safety were mentioned). She no doubt helped hold down the need for tax increases.