Sound-Off Round Up

Here’s a few of the Daily Corinthian Sound-Offs that have come out in favor of the effort to Stop the Forrest School Road Landfill:

July 12, 2008

Time to Stand Up

As I get the news out of this latest tragedy of a board of supervisor’s meeting, I have to ask: “Where is the voice of First District Supervisor Keith Fields?”

The time has come for Fields to stand up for the rights of the citizens of the first district. Simply saying ‘I’m against this’ isn’t going to get the job done.

In a related note, Jeff Rencher was wrong in attempting to vilify a man trying to protect his leukemia-stricken son and then berating the Daily Corinthian for actually printing his letter.

If not for the Daily Corinthian, which I applaud, and the landfill section on wenasoga.com, the citizens of Alcorn County would be totally in the dark.

July 15, 2008

Do the Math

I have a question for Alcorn County Supervisor Gary Ross. There were 709 names on the petition against the proposed site, and yet he was quoted saying “We don’t just represent eight or 10 families in the county, we represent the whole county.”

Common sense would stand to reason a family here in Corinth consists of five to seven people, most likely two to four of them being children. Common sense would also stand those children would not sign the petition. So tell me, how do you figure over 700 names could be construed as “Eight or 10 families?”

This landfill is still being forced against 700 people. My best interest is challenging the board of supervisors to have rubbish dumped 500 feet from their homes and see how welcoming they find it to be. This is clearly not a battle to evaluate the concerns of the people, but a struggle to find the quickest place for a landfill.

Intimidation tactics ridiculous

At Monday’s board meeting (July 7), 3rd District Supervisor Jeff Rencher publicly chastised Greg Hinton for his letter to the editor and attempted to vilify him for trying to protect his son from the harmful debris generated by the proposed landfill. This shameful display didn’t stop there as Jeff berated the newspaper for printing the letters sent in by the citizens of Alcorn County, whom he supposedly represents.

Jeff also dismissed any discussion of the landfill and left the room when citizens tried to read their prepared statement.

This is a shameful display by someone who is supposed to be a public servant. Rencher led everyone to believe he was taking a leadership position on the landfill issue and doing what’s right by the county, but this display of childish behavior is unbelievable and unacceptable.

The fun didn’t stop with Jeff’s temper tantrum. Gary Ross continued with what could only be described as a ridiculous intimidation move.

After dismissing the opposition to the Forrest School Road landfill as a mere “Eight to ten families,” (who apparently don’t matter), Gary was smacked down by a list of over 700 names. In an attempt at citizen intimidation, Ross suggested the 700 people on the petition might have to share in any fine levied against the county. When asked directly, the county attorney, to his credit, said no, they could not.

This outrageous suggestion should be a wake up call to citizens that Gary Ross is ready to throw the citizens under the bus for his board’s shortcomings and will use any means necessary, including the threat of litigation, to silence the voice of the citizens of Alcorn County.

July 19, 2008

Democracy in action?

Several people went to the Alcorn County Supervisors’ meeting to give them the petitions restricting where landfills can be put. The group was mannerly and on the agenda and waited two hours to speak. When their turn came, before they could even speak, the group was screamed at for writing letters to the editor. Jeff Rencher made a motion, and all the board members approved, to not let the group speak.

Can you believe our board of supervisors – who campaigned on being open to the people – was afraid to let people speak? Then the board members ranted about the newspaper printing letters and Sound-Offs about the humane society. The humane society wasn’t even there.

The most awful part was when the man, who wrote Sunday’s letter about his child’s experience with cancer and how they would have to move if they put the landfill by his house, had to apologize to the supervisors for hurting their feelings. Hurting their feelings! Can you believe it? After all that family has gone through, he was the bigger man and apologized while the supervisors wouldn’t even look him in the eye.

Instead of listening to the facts, the supervisors just called it erroneous information. When asked whether 700 signatures meant anything, the supervisors said it just meant the group must’ve worked hard.

I’m afraid to sign my name to this for fear they will retaliate against my family. That’s why people send in Sound-Offs – they’re scared. Of course, when any praise is sent to the newspaper about the supervisors, it’s also in Sound Off. Reckon why that person doesn’t give their name? Who could it be?

They may put the landfill out there, but they won’t be able to blame it on anyone but themselves. Board meetings should be videotaped so everyone can see our democracy in action. The people need an apology.

July 22, 2008

Bring back old supervisors

I would like to comment on the landfill and the way the supervisors are dealing with the citizens of Wenasoga. I have land in Wenasoga and I don’t want the landfill out there. But, I was so upset with the way supervisors dealt with Greg Hinton’s family. I have known the Hinton family over 40 years and I know that their little boy has had a bad time and is sick.

At this point, I’m ready to put the old supervisors back into office.

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