Category: Opinion

Editors note:  Be warned, this article contains explicit wording.  This is a cut and paste from my child’s latest ninth grade reading assignment from “Go Ask Alice”.  My child is 14 and is in ninth grade.  What about decency?  This is not the education that my tax dollars are paying for my child to receive.  If my daughter walked into class and proclaimed “Another Day Another blowjob”  she would be immediately suspended or expelled.  The teacher assigned this book without …

Maria Parham’s appeal of 2012 business Personal Property Appeal Basically, the Commissioners agreed to support the Tax Managers efforts to follow the law and encourage Maria Parham (now Duke Life Point) to do the same.  At issue is a little disagreement of $9,012,556.  The Tax Manager says Maria Parham owes $21,326,662 and Maria Parham says they owe $12,314.106.  As things now stand, the ball in Maria Parham’s hands to pay the bill or follow the rules.   Water Board Two items …

I have been told it is an old African proverb. I know it has been part of the Democratic Party philosophy for a number of years.  I know that because it has been said by the Democrats that there has been a steady beat of sneers, mocking and laughter at it by many of the radio people who has traditionally been speaking for the Republican philosophy of self-reliance and independence. The proverb is “It takes a village to raise a …

Proposed Increase in Utility Deposit The basics first then an observation.  Ray Griffin presented a proposal to double the utility (water and sewer) deposit as a means of mitigating the loss of revenue when a customer fails to pay their water and sewer bill.  Mr. Griffin started his presentation recalling that in November 2011, the two changes to the ordinance governing water and sewer bills.  The first of the two changes was effective in November 2011 and “… established a …

Different subject. Do any of you know what website one goes to in order to complain of a FRAUDULENT police force with respect to tickets? If so, let me know! Now that I have your attention, we were travelling through MO approaching St Louis. We were in the Left Squeeze Lane, and were being passed at very high speed by a car and a pickup truck in the Hammer Lane and in the Right Squeeze Lane. We were UNDER the …

As a reminder, this inquiry into our county’s and city’s “Section 8” housing started with a request from mingo and Elmwood.  Before starting my inquiry I posted six questions that I would seek answers and mingo added a question about inspections.  Several weeks ago our intrepid editor submitted a list of eight suggestions for the County Commissioner’s to consider during their annual retreat.  One of those suggestions was to establish a county housing authority.  At the annual retreat a summary …

What follows extends my posting on unemployment compensation of several days ago. I am now forbidden to ever (that is right EVER) submit any letter to the Henderson Dispatch per orders of Al Wooten, the current editor. This is after censorship by him and some extended acrimony by both e-mails and personal phone calls between us. I start with this comment as a form of “full disclosure.” In addition, anything which is in quotation marks in what follows is an …

The bench in the Peanut Gallery is hard especially during a near marathon Commissioners’ meeting.  Last night’s meeting started normally at 6 o’clock ending some three hours later, too late to find a downtown restaurant open serving dinner with an adult type beverage.  A long productive meeting filled with some surprises, some fore gone conclusions, and the new use of a common word.  Veteran Affairs Recognition The meeting opened with the NC Division of Veteran Affairs recognizing Ms. Sandra Grissom’s …

Kris Kristofferson had a line in one of his songs about being a “walking contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction.”  Jimmy Buffet has a line in one of his songs about “semi-true story, believe it or not. I made up a few things and some I’ve forgot.” So I am sure I am not alone in the notion that most of us are not very consistent in what we want and what we believe.  We say we want one thing …

In answer to Friday’s The Daily Dispatch editorial on unemployment (2/1/2013):  I do not know NC law because I moved here after retirement,  but in most States during most of my life there have been two rules which totally eliminate your comments,   as well as those of John Hood of the John Locke Society last week.  First,  most States required persons on unemployment to be able to show consistent job-search efforts,  and those efforts were frequently checked.   Second,  in …

Annual Financial Audit Report Curtis Averette, a partner with William L. Stark and Company, presented the annual financial audit report stating the report is an unqualified opinion.  An unqualified opinion is better than a qualified opinion because a qualified opinion means there is something the auditor needs to explain such as when accounts do not balance.  Mr. Averette explained the audit disclosed weak controls governing water bill payments.  (I think he said for six years).  The weakness resulted in a …

Last Friday, the County Manager issued an email notice announcing that Chairman Hester had called for a meeting of the County Commissioners and the Water Board for noon today.  (Just so everyone understands, the Water Board members are also our County Commissioners so whatever one board approves there is little chance the other board would disapprove.)  The purpose of the meeting was to allow the “Adoption of Resolution for Water Bond Anticipation Notes (this allows for extension of BANs for …

“Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.” This warning holds meaning for us in Henderson just as it did for the Trojans in ancient times. The first gift we should have been wary of was the gift of the warehouse on Zene Street that was accepted by the Downtown Development Commission. This commission is not elected and for the most part is funded by the taxpayers in Henderson. Why the DCC would accept such a large property that harbored vagrants and piles …

Editors Note – The original article can be found here if you’d like to read:  http://www.carolinajournal.com/daily_journal/display.html?id=9808 John Hood’s article on unemployment in the Daily Dispatch  (1/16/2013,  page A8)  would make the English philosopher John Locke (for whom Hood’s organization is named) absolutely mortified.  I have studied Locke,  and Hood fails to understand him and takes him out of context,  which is what he also does with his cited references. So that no reader thinks I am a slacker for what …

Last night’s City Council meeting was the first meeting for this new year of 2013.  If last night’s meeting set the tone for this year, then an Americanized Chinese dish best describes the coming year.  Last night the City Council served up a great plate of sweet and sour government.  The City Council did one man’s bidding and allowed gambling dens (internet cafes) to be located next door to a barber college.  As it was explained to me after the …

Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments  Monday night’s Commissioners meeting opened with two separate public hearings both regarding changes, text amendments, to the County’s zoning ordinance.  The first change, text amendment, was intended to allow the installation of accessory solar collectors and large scale solar farms.  By definition solar collectors and solar farms are forbidden because they are excluded from the zoning ordinance.  Mr. McMillen explained that the Planning and Environmental Committee met six hours before the Commissioners meeting and requested that …

In a few weeks our illustrious County Commissioners will attend their annual retreat; where in theory they plan for the future one year at a time. The public is invited to attend this annual retreat as silent observers. For the publics’ voice to be heard at the retreat we must speak in advance of the meeting. This is my attempt to jump start the publics’ input to the annual County Commissioners’ retreat. Water – five years ago the Commissioner started …

Update Lawsuit: Pitts v. O’Geary, 5:12-cv-343-D Download the “PLAINTIFF’S COMBINED RESPONSE TO  OCTOBER 25, 2012 NOTICE FROM THE CLERK OF THE COURT AND PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT DIRECTED AGAINST DEFENDANT LONNIE DAVIS, JR.” here:  20121205_Response Clerk’s Notice.pdf By Alan Pitts, Community Organizer, Consultant To Vance County Youth Voters Collision, Visional Artist Just an update in our efforts to purge our fair city of those who believe the constitution of the United States is good for nothing more than toilet …

Reorganization of the Board and Appointment of OfficersJudge Finch did the honor of swearing in or affirming each of the unopposed and re-elected Commissioners and our new Commissioner Mr. Archie Taylor.  Then the Commissioners did the Chairman shuffle with Mr. Hester winning the Chairmanship and Ms. Brown the Vice Chairmanship.  The new Board voted to keep the current officers in their current job, approved the 2013 Holiday Schedule, and agreed to keep the same 8 – 5 Monday – Friday …

I have great memories of Thanksgiving’s going to the Vance Hotel for lunch or going to the S&W cafeteria in Raleigh and eating upstairs. Then there was one Thanksgiving when I was invited to the mountains, my sister was invited to the beach, and my brother was on a hunting trip. When we got home, Daddy was complaining that all he had for Thanksgiving was Navy beans! For the next 30 years he reminded my mother of that and it …