Suwannee Countians, it's time to speak your mind! How? By calling the Suwannee Democrat Rant and Rave hotline. The hotline never closes and is your way to let it out. You can let everyone know how you feel -- as long as you express yourself in a respectful way.

Note: In written entries to Rant and Rave, errors in spelling, grammar or punctuation are those of the authors.

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The reason the city council cannot agree on a candidate is simple. Two councilman want more of the OMI luxury that costs tax payers millions. And two councilman want a public works department that is not for profit.

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In response about borrowing drug sniffing dogs for the Magnolia type events, it wouldn't work. As one officer has said, the poor dogs would probably go schizophrenic and die of a heart attack. The prevalence and variety of options would be too much to handle. A task force member told me that some people come for nothing more than to sell their goods and was surprised when there were arrests occurring. What is the real long term benefit from this type of stuff? Is it really worth it???

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In response to the rant about the ambulance/EMS service transporting someone who was "not feeling well" while her dad was having a heart attack: I agree that we have excellent EMS responders who need to be complimented on their service. However, you are under a misconception regarding our tax dollars paying for this service. My son was in a car accident (very serious with life threatening injuries) - he was transported to the hospital by local EMS services and then transported to the trauma unit at Shands/Gainesville due to the seriousness of his injuries. Thankfully, he did survive although he underwent several major surgeries and is still undergoing a lot of follow-up with more down the road. The catch on this is: when the bills started rolling in - I was charged for the ambulance ride and EMS services he received at the accident site and transport to the Trauma Center to the tune of over $5,000.00. So, why are we paying taxes for emergency services? This is not an error - as I also had need of EMS several years ago when my husband suffered a medical emergency (stroke) and EMS arrived, took him to Shands @ Live Oak - then, several weeks later, I received the EMS service bill for transport to the tune of $2,133.00 WHAT ARE WE PAYING FOR IN THESE TAXES?

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I took my share of drug tests and passed when I was able to work, until drug crazed ex-husband tried to kill me, which injured my back. So I did in your words: work for a living! Trust me, I paid taxes like you, so I am thankful for my check! Live in public housing, my rent is high, w/bills and so on. Not asking for a handout. There are times when I'm actually very hungry. But u wont find me in sheriff link for stealing food. So my monetary assistance came from my years of employment and not from the tax payers. The working class that needs a little help!! talk to your employers on that one!! or learn to budget your money!!

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This is in response to the one who came from Sandalwood, maybe you should go to Madison college and get your law enforcement degree and go to work for our chief or maybe even our sheriffs. But what is that you say, you're working and you get that call and you're answering nothing but disturbance calls, you don't have time to write the [inaudible] ticket, well what sheriff or chief, tell them you are too busy writing [inaudible] tickets, to go to that call. They need to focus on more things like child restraints.

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Am I the only one that gets behind the person at the roundabout that things the yield sign is a stop sign? Will somebody tell me please?

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Fake petty Americans love our country! so if you can't or wont speak English, then go back to Mexico or where ever it is you snuck across the border or how ever you entered to our great country!! that includes Canada, which equals around 14,000 miles of border to be patroled!! Dont be so sure that your daughters are being followed in Wal-Mart, they probably arent even noticed!!

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All drugs should be legalized. After that happens the jails become empty, the courts become empty, the lawyers are on unemployment. And murder rates drop 90 percent and people can go to work making money.

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To those who wrote in on rant and rave regarding being more concerned about the graduation rates in Suwannee County as opposed to the coverage of a game that involves a small group at considerable public expense. The football players have to have a certain grade point average that they maintain all through the year. If they fall below that, they are under contract, and if it is not brought up, then they are no longer a part of the team. And where does public expense come in at all regarding the football games? If you don't want to pay to go to the game then don't go, it is not costing you a thing then is it?

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Yeah, in regards to the Magnolia Festival coverage. There are different festivities that go on at the Spirit of the Suwannee all throughout the year for various groups of people, if you want to call it that. Drunken rednecks, that's not really a term you need to leave in Suwannee County. What about the Policeman's Ball, who you never hear about getting into trouble, and all of them sit up there with an open bar and drive home after they have been drinking all night. Where are all those arrests?

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This is for the people talking about tinted windows. She should think that for some of us who have skin cancer, for us to go to town with tinted windows, helps us to do our shopping and stuff and helps us save our lives from getting this skin cancer that is caused by the sun. She should think before she opens her mouth about this.

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This is in response to the article by Paul Haas on fire codes. I feel some things need to be clarified. Suwannee Co. Fire/Rescue is the authority having jurisdiction in the county. Live Oak Fire Dept. has that authority in the city limits of Live Oak. NFPA1, 1.10 provides for the establishment of a board of appeals. If a business owner feels the authority having jurisdiction has misinterpreted the code, this board of appeals can be called on to make a final decision. I know of a couple of cases where the Suwannee Co. authority having jurisdiction's interpretation of the code was deemed incorrect. Sometimes taking classes and passing a state exam does not an expert make. In the case of interpreting the fire prevention code, experience and good people skills go a long way. I feel Mr. Haas has become a jack of all trades at Suwannee Co. Fire Rescue. You know the old saying about a jack of all trades.

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Councilman Flip Flop is at it again. After praising Henry Smart for his initiative and interest in the vacant council seat he votes against him. Mr. Stewart is allowed to use the bully pulpit for his political aspirations but when someone else announces they are a candidate, they are no longer a viable person. That makes no sense, but neither did voting for a $36,000 SUV. Mr. Stewart ran unopposed that won't happen this time. Say one thing and do another. Still enjoying your insurance money you voted against then took?

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I would like to commend the Sheriff's Posse on the great job they do at the football games

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I'd like to know why there is such little support in the gay community here in Suwannee County. I'm fully aware that small towns (especially in the south) aren't accepting of this sort of thing, but it's 2010 and it's time to get with the rest of the world. These people are human just like straight people. Stop acting like it's a choice and start being a little more accepting of the fact that humans can love other humans. That's something beautiful, not something that should be forbidden.

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I think it should be mandatory that if people want to submit something to Rant and Rave, they should have to sign their name to it. It's easy to be critical and throw blame around when you have the luxury of doing it anonymously. I'm curious how many complainers and name callers we would have if they had to claim their insults and sarcasm. Have some backbone and courage...

- Missy Norris

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To respond to the people who have a problem with the Hispanics in Suwannee County. Have you ever heard of equal opportunity? Whether or not the Hispanics that come to our lovely country take advantage of it is a different story. Like it or not, Hispanics are becoming the majority of the population in Florida. Just like S. FL...Soon enough you WILL have to be bilingual to get a job in northern Florida. Stop being so ignorant and thinking EVERY HISPANIC stuck across the border. And yeah, maybe some of them get arrested for driving without an ID... but at least its not over anything major like drugs, sexual abuse, battery, or theft like most of the other Live Oakeans! I could name a couple Hispanics in Live Oak that have built a very successful life out of their opportunity here.

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Why did Mayor Nobles have words of praise for his other selections but nothing to say about Mr. Smart? If you didn't know that the mayor knew Mr. Smart was not getting no votes from Stewart and Rewis, then I have a bridge to sell you.

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Callers to 386-208-8314 may express their thoughts, good or bad, 24/7 about community issues and politics, but not about private individuals or businesses. If you prefer, you may email your comments to nf.editorial@gaflnews.com. You don't have to give your name, and please, keep submissions to less than 45 seconds (that's about 150 words). We want everybody to have a chance to be heard. Submissions that are overly long will be discarded. If 45 seconds isn't enough time, write a Letter to the Editor. (Guidelines for letters appear on Page 6A of our print edition.)