Rant & Rave - July 30

Suwannee Democrat

Live Oak — 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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Yes sir, for the people calling in about the city public works director, saying that he doesn’t know what's going on and doesn’t know how to do anything and he's kept out of the loop, he wouldn’t know what to do if he was in the loop. The city advertised for this position and I think it was needed. Mr. Nobles and Mr. Farley and all City Council, interviewed several people for this position. Mr. McKenna was picked for this position by all and they paid him $72,000 a year. If he was so bad, why did they pick him, why did they hire him? If he was so bad, why don’t they fire him? I surely believe this is OMI and administration folks that is calling in about this. Politics as usual. It never stops. Thank you.

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There is an extremely easy solution to the issue of political signs being posted on the right-of-ways and other public locations. Upon filing their application to run for an office, candidates should be required to post a bond. Any costs incurred by the DOT or any other agency associated with collecting these illegally posted signs would be refunded from this bond.

Additionally, each sign retrieved should result in a penalty to be deducted from the bond. More money should be charged for larger signs. Most importantly, this activity should be reported in the media in order for informed citizens (voters) to be aware of these actions. Once the funds in the “bond” are reduced to a certain amount, the candidate would be deemed ineligible unless the bond was replenished. Seems pretty easy to me. How about it, local commissioners and councilmen?

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This is in reference to the comment Mr. Lacque made about the funds being raised on fire service in Suwannee County. Mr. Lacque you should do your homework before making comments about people should buy water hoses and guns that would take care of the Fire Department and Law Enforcement. I have been a professional Firefighter for ten years and there is more duties and responsibilities of a Fire Department than just putting out fires with water. The Fire Service has many functions in a community they provide EMS,Enforce Life Safety Codes for businesses, Public Education and the list goes on. The Fire Department also has a standard to meet with ISO. In return the lower the ISO score is for the county/city the less you pay in homeowners insurance. It's not just a little bit of money it can save the homeowner half of what there current premium is. The current fire budget is under budget now. You may thinks it  inadequate to fund Fire/ EMS but other citizens may want the best protection for themselves and there family. Being a Professional Firefighter it is important  to have a strong budget. It will allow us to have the equipment we need to do the best job we can to protect and serve the community we work and live in and to be able to go home at the end of our shifts to our family safely and know that we have made a difference in our community or in someones time of need. Quit thinking about how to save a dollar and think about how a adequate budget may save a citizens life or save one of our lives in the line of duty.  J. Adam McCook

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Raves to A.C.V. for practicing what they preach. This generous contribution benefits saved & sinners equally. This is the light a church should be seen in, not mucking in politics or running people's lives. It is a blessing to givers & recievers alike & should set an example. It should also point out that the politicos are so sorry that they can't " get 'er done" without the church being involved, not good on legal grounds. VOTE 'EM OUT. Residents of this county , incl. & especially new ones (under 20 yrs.)deserve & need better representation, performance & monetary value than this bunch are willing to provide. Read the history of this place, the same names have been getting the checks for a 100yrs. & the results aren't real pretty, are they? I urge this paper to list the salaries & perks of everyone on the taxpayers teats. It's not secret, but the impact of reading it all in one column might just open some eyes & minds.

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I am making a pitch for William F. "Lin" Williams for County Judge. His office will be the highest of integrity. He is a good honest man, unlike some officials in Live Oak who can’t spell integrity, much less know what it means. Vote for William F. "Lin" Williams.

An avid fan.

Woo-hah!

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Instead of raising taxes, how bout cuttin' salaries on elected official types? Don't count on a corrupt out of touch gov't. to do nothing for you. Not the fat cats, the big corporations or low life lobbyists neither, all they care about is themselves. The job falls to legal citizens, workin' folks, taxpayers & prop. owners, regardless of race or religion. Try this:

#1 Vote, hire, & app't. folks based on education, competence, & real world experience, not just historical, family, & social ties. Then we could run public services instead of paying OMI, maybe stop some lawsuits too. Mr. Bridges, what's the scoop about the bogus bond?

#2 Offer 5 yr. 5ac. leases on the ill concieved catalyst park at token rents, not tax incentives. We're already payin' for this pig in a poke. That could bring 20 sm. businesses in and encourage local investment. The county needs to stay out of it, they can't provide services no matter how much they tax us. Change zoning on the vast tracts of unused ag land to earn a buck or encourage profitable growth.

#3 The chamber, economic, & tourism development need to do what they get paid for, not look to the commission for direction or do their bidding. Pool the resources, launch an ad campaign across the SE to promote our area as a hospitable, forward thinking place to live, work, & relax. Change the liquor law & dispel the image of being backward, suspicous, corrupt fanatics. Get new revenue sources 'stead of taxing the locals. Try running this place as a potentially profitable community, not a welfare state that survives on grants!



In response to your question about the fraudulent bond at Nathan Oaks, county officials remain uncertain of the extent of our liability. We'll continue to update the situation as we learn more. - Editor

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You folks in Suwannee County owe it to yourselves to go see the new office building at the county animal shelter. It's very attractive. While you're there, please consider taking home a furry new friend. Shelter animals make the best pets. Their number is 208-0072. Thanks.

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Dear Mr. Haas your comments about grading teachers and having a business approach to education seems well intended but very naïve. Please examine the facts. We actually do have a business principle for education. For example, Florida paid NCS Pearson $254 million just this year to grade the FCAT. This is the same company that admitted to scoring over 5,000 SAT college placement tests incorrectly in 2006. This is the same company that has been weeks late with this years FCAT scores and has had trouble administering the states first round of computer-based tests. Because of data irregularities in this year’s scores superintendents and Gov. Crist support a third-party assessment of the scores. Also, don’t forget that in 2006 the state accidently inflated the 3rd grade FCAT reading scores. We owe it to our schools that if we continue to hold teachers accountable for scores from a private company that the company getting paid millions each year could at least get the scores right.

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Allen Boyd has taken credit for saving the oyster industry, helping the veterans and may other things. But what has he done for the Senior Citizens “NOTHING” actually he has hurt the seniors by voting for Obama care thus cutting Millions out of Medicare. If he does survive the primary with Al Lawson the seniors must help vote him out Nov. 2nd and send a conservative Republican to Washington.

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I am calling for the need for a collection center for the plastic bottles in Suwannee County. Is there anywhere that we can take all our plastic bottles too, because those things just stay in the landfill forever. If you would print something about that I would really appreciate it. Thank you.

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Yes I'd like to get that kind of deed for improving businesses to get the 100 acres of free, clear, land [inaudible] Barry Baker that wrote in for taxpayers and citizens myself. That sounds like a really good thing for taxpayers of Live Oak and Suwannee County. I'd appreciate that very much. Thank you so much.

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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.)

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