County needs more options
We have many challenges ahead of us in the next four years with inflation and more. In Cherokee County, our commission is looking to put a 10-cent mil increase on our property tax. They say a 1-cent sales tax won’t help because people will be spending less and sales taxes will go down. They say an additional short-term rental property tax won’t help because it can only be used for tourism.
This is what we are facing in our county – a short sightedness and habit of only looking at one part of a solution, not what could be.
Here is my proposal to get us through the hard times, and without making county residents foot the entire bill.
First, raise the tax on short-term rentals. This will bring in more advertising money, with which we can better advertise to areas within a short drive ( Chattanooga, Knoxville, Atlanta, etc.). People still will vacation, but will do so closer to home due to gas prices, inflation and other budget concerns, and we have much to offer.
Second, raise the sales tax. This will produce an additional revenue stream for lawsuits, debts and improvements in Cherokee County – and visitors will help pay for it.
Third, to offset any slowdown in sales tax from the economy (which I don’t believe we will have if we institute items one and two), we can add a 4-cent mil to our property taxes, which could be rescinded next year after the advertising and sales tax increase kick in.
If we implement these changes, and the county commission can stop their needless and reckless spending, I believe we can get though this without hurting our citizens to the point of them having to sell or lose their property.
We are Cherokee County. Make your voice heard.
John Midkiff, Hiwassee Dam
Get inmates to clean trash
As long as I have been living in Cherokee County, I have never seen so many weeds. For many weeks, not one county mower has been around.
I know if your property is close to the road, it’s only right you mow that portion. However, when they decide to get the mowers going, they go over all trash the pigs have tossed out their cars.
Get the jailbirds to work and make Cherokee County pretty again.
Oscar Valdes, Murphy
Thanks for great article
We with the Valley River Model Railroad Club would like to thank Anngee Quinones-Belian and her crew for the fine job they did in the June 1 edition of the Cherokee Scout. It was a pleasure talking with her, and photographer Bill Belian did a super job.
Seeing the children’s faces from Hidden Mountain Brilliance Homeschoolers as they watched the trains go around the layout was worth a million dollars. In our estimation, it is time for children to get back to trains like the Lionel trains that used to run around under the Christmas tree. Do you all remember those days?
We at the VRMRC always welcome groups to see our layout in the caboose by just notifying us on our Facebook page, Valley River Model Railroad or stop by one of our open houses, which are on the third Saturday of every month between April and October and speak to one of our members or me. Our next open house will be held Saturday, June 25.
Again, thanks Anngee and the Cherokee Scout. We really appreciated your article.
Thomas Urso, Murphy
The writer is president of Valley River Model Railroad Club.
Fox doesn’t want truth
The House Jan. 6, 2021, committee hearings will place the GOP and corrupt world of right-wing politics under the spotlight. That’s the reason Republicans are so invested in making sure Americans change the channel.
The racist slurs hurled at law enforcement officers during the attack. The horde of hysterical conservatives shouting that the country belongs to them. The gallows prepared for a vice president who wouldn’t defy the law. The weapons used to overwhelm police. The Confederate flags paraded through the halls of Congress. The feces smeared on the walls of the Capitol. The clouds of smoke billowing from the building.
In the lead-up to these hearings, Republicans have taken to conservative media outlets to discourage viewers from watching the hearings. Fox News, which has provided a platform for many election conspiracy theorists, won’t be airing the hearings live, and Republicans are planning counterprogramming for their followers to watch instead of the hearings.
Surely, you can sense the desperation.
For more than a year, the GOP has been allowed to whitewash the events on and ahead of Jan. 6. Many have downplayed the riot’s severity. Others have lionized the mob and talked highly of some of the defendants charged in connection with it. And many more have acted on the mob’s goal – suppressing votes of non-Republicans.
The carnage was impossible to deny. As the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol laid out, evidence shows former President Donald Trump was the catalyst of the assault on American democracy, a 12-minute video showed the full consequences of Trump’s willful lie that the election was stolen. It was perhaps the committee’s most compelling argument.
In one clip from a fallen U.S. Capitol Police officer’s body camera, you can see the mob bearing down, beating the officer mercilessly.
Jim Grazis, Young Harris, Ga.
Resolve for term limits
Is there any doubt our federal government is fiscally irresponsible and out of control? The foresight of our Founding Fathers could not be more needed than it is today.
Per Article V of the U.S. Constitution, 34 states have the right to bypass Congress and propose amendments to the Constitution. It takes 38 states for the amendments to actually be ratified. The process used to bypass congress is referred to as a Convention of States.
Just what is the process?
The proposal below must be passed by the state legislative bodies and be aggregate (i.e., the same). Each state then sends delegate(s) to a “Convention of States.” Each state gets one vote.
The Convention of States resolution is as follows:
“The legislature of the State of North Carolina hereby applies to Congress, under the provisions of Article V of the Constitution of the United States Constitution, for the calling
of a convention of the states limited to proposing amendments to the United States Constitution that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and members of Congress.”
In North Carolina, the Convention of States grassroots are growing, particularly this year. Overall, we have 40 states involved, 19 fully approved and 7 more with 1 house approved.
Lets Make North Carolina No. 20 this May 2022.
Can you help? Absolutely. Our resolution has already passed in the N.C. House (HJR 233). Call or write your senator and ask them to support HJR 233.
To see the full resolution, go to Dustin Smith for Sheriff Facebook page.
Send the same message to all your North Carolina friends and family. That’s the real long-term goal of a Convention of States; citizens informing one another.
Dustin Smith
Dr. Diana Luder
Murphy
Smith is Cherokee County’s sheriff-elect, while Luder is with the Convention of States.
Arson ends in hardships
Does our local fire marshal get paid? If so, how?
A year ago in the June 9, 2021, newspaper, a story was written about a search for a serial arsonist. The reason I am writing this letter cause if I am lucky to be around the next nine years, I don’t want to have to read a update that “Batman lost a wheel and the Joker got away.”
However, to some of us that already has happened, for arson is a hardship on any owner. I am seeking a lawyer’s help who knows how to work with the hard of hearing to help seek and get compensation.
I read another article later that it seems arson is hard to prove. How about proof of breaking and entering? Or trespassing? How about neglect on the investigation which there is proof?
Every embarrassing junkyard (to some people) has a story. I hope I get the right lawyer who knows how to help me get a new law passed to receive compensation for arson property owners (when it’s not their fault) from the person or persons who did the crime. In loving memory of my father, Edward Helton, and to those past, plus
honor of those who help make the community it once was. Thank you for reading this.
Willena Helton, Hot House
A lesson in awareness
On June 12, 2016, 50 people were murdered and more than 60 people were injured. June 12 was “Latin Night” at Pulse, a known homosexual night club. June was “Gay Pride” month, and it was the month of the Moslem Ramadan.
Most of the victims were American citizens, and most victims came from Christian families.
The murderer was a bisexual Islamic terrorist. He was an American citizen, but renounced his citizenship as he proclaimed allegiance to ISIS.
There was no way to defend the innocents. Only the security guard was armed. The FBI was contacted about him at least five times. His father was a supporter of the Taliban who streamed his propaganda in Afghanistan and at one time was a candidate to be Afghanistan’s president.
Could the evil one entice our federal government to engage a dupe in a plot to further divide this nation on several fronts and embolden our enemies, visible and invisible?
Most have forgotten this tragedy. But it’s a lesson in awareness and need for God.
Jura McCarthy Ashley
Murphy