Children listening
Sports parents: Remember, your children are listening.
For some kids, on the field or court is their only safe place. Don’t take that away by aggressively yelling on the sidelines. Cheer. Encourage.
There will always be a better team. Sometimes it’s your team, sometimes it’s not. Encourage your children to give it their all, to be a positive influence.
Don’t send the message that they can’t be great if someone else is. Positivity and determination lead to growth. If the score is 8-0, encourage them to get one on the board, to not give up!
Remember, despite advancements in technology, our referees are still human. They are doing their best and can’t always see everything. Many times there are rules you are not aware of. Show respect.
Most of them are in it for the kids. For the bad calls, life isn’t always perfect. Don’t waste your time screaming and complaining. Move forward, and your kids will follow.
Above all things, sports should be fun and about giving it your all. Competition is great for kids, in a healthy environment.
Christa Blackman, Andrews
The writer is an organizer and coach with the Cherokee County Soccer League.
Reorganizing our schools
There is much debate about the reorganization of schools in Cherokee County. Having sat on the board of education for 10 years, I cannot comprehend the financial feasibility of the proposed reorganization of schools, primarily the plan that will move Martins Creek Middle School students to an overcrowded Murphy Middle School.
This would leave Martins Creek school with an unused wing. Furthermore, why not move Peachtree to Martins Creek?
Martins Creek has a full-time counselor; Peachtree has no counselor. Peachtree has a full-time principal; Martins Creek has no principal. Peachtree has a full-time librarian; Martins Creek has no librarian.
Martins Creek and Peachtree share a nurse and a reading specialist. Martins Creek has a gym that is about 25 years old, while Peachtree has a gym that is close to 50 years old and needs a new roof for a price of $300,000.
How can the proposed plan save money? The proposal will continue to spend money on upgrades to Murphy Middle, while applying Band-Aids to other aging buildings.
I am attaching information prepared by the school system and posted on the school website that might also be interesting. I know that the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners cannot dictate decisions concerning the board of education, but I do know that funding projects can be impacted by the commissioners since they control county spending/tax dollars.
Thank you for your service to the community.
Debbie Hogan, Cherokee County
The writer is a taxpayer and former member of the Cherokee County Board of Education.
Facebook turns real
I had a good laugh reading Publisher David Brown’s column in the April 3 edition of the Cherokee Scout, “Gambling item costly to 1 reader.”
I thought about how Facebook will pull posts if they feel they don’t adhere to their standards. Now it’s happening to our beloved local newspaper, courtesy of a Florida correctional facility.
David, I guess you can say you’ve been Facebooked.
Teresa Pullium, Andrews
Not immune to prosecution
This letter is in reply to a letter published in the April 3 edition of the Cherokee Scout.
Dear J.B. Roberts of Hot House:
For Operation Geronimo, then President Barack Obama issued a “capture or kill” order for Osama bin Laden based upon overwhelming evidence that he was responsible for planning and instigating the attack on New York and Washington, D.C., on Sept. 11, 2001.
This action did not take place within the confines of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, the Five Major Territories or the Four Minor Territorial Islands of the United States. Therefore, it was a legal military action undertaken by Obama under the Authorization for Use of Military Force in a Joint Resolution of Congress noted in Public Law 107-40, consistent with section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution, 50 USC 1541, providing that the president of the United States shall use all necessary military force to capture or kill the person or persons responsible for the attacks on the United States of America on Sept. 11, 2001.
The crimes of which former President Donald Trump has been accused have nothing to do with the War Powers Resolution. They are felonious acts outside the scope of the authority granted him by the Constitution of the United States or Congress.
Trump also used military force, in the form of drone attacks, on enemy high-value targets while in office. The War in Afghanistan also continued under former Trump. No one is accusing him of overstepping his authority on those issues.
The bottom line is that presidents are not immune from prosecution once they leave office for acts they committed while in office that are unlawful.
That is why President Gerald Ford pardoned President Richard Nixon to prevent his prosecution by the Department of Justice.
Kevin Heyboer, Hot House
What does moon mean?
The New Moon cycle is a special time of month, symbolizing fresh starts, new beginnings and potential for growth.
During ancient times people harnessed their energy of the New Moon through rituals and recognizing its power to manifest one’s intentions and desires.
- April 8, New Moon, 0 percent.
- April 9, Waxing Crescent Moon, 1 percent.
- April 10, Waxing Crescent Moon, 10 percent.
- April 12, Waxing Crescent Moon, 18 percent.
- April 13, Waxing Crescent Moon, 27 percent.
- April 14, Waxing Crescent Moon, 37 percent.
- April 15, First Quarter Moon, 47 percent.
- April 16, Waxing Gibbous at 57 percent occurs.
The New Moon is a more introspective time and represents new beginning as we plant seeds for the future.
- Set clear intentions for the month ahead.
- Clarify your goals.
- Start new projects.
- Acknowledge your growth since the previous moon.
- Reset.
- Rest.
- Relaxation.
Concentrate on manifesting and bringing all things positive your way during this next weeks’ cycle of the New Moon. All things are possible.
Shelley Dietrich, Murphy
Folding to will of a few
Think twice.
Cherokee County. What a mess. Think twice before you invest.
County commissioners and school board members should be curtailed from altering the face of the community without community consent.
Schemes, no matter how noble and well intended, that alter the face of the community, including how and where its children are educated, must be put to a community vote. That is the final check on power when it involves sweeping change. That is the American way.
The notion being sold is the community will be told and forced to fold to the will of a few. Being forced to surrender and submit to indenture is the feudal way.
Ron Gaynor, Murphy
Stop killing the civilians
Intelligence has always been a problem for me, like this coming from Washington: “We must stop the killing of civilians.”
A group wanting to surrender waves a white flag so they are shot down by the Israeli Army. More recently, people who go to Gaza to feed the people get killed. President Joe Biden tells Israel President Benjamin Netanyahu to do something about this civilian slaughter or face the consequences.
So what’s the answer? Send more 2,000-pound bombs.
For years, we have been supporting the Israelites, and they don’t listen. Instead of jets and bombs, they need listening aids.
We are helping them slaughter non-Jews.
You want to stop the war? Stop these killing weapons to Israel.
Oscar Valdes, Murphy