THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 27, 1995 TAG: 9504260123
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Long : 126 lines
Whether or not one agrees with recent decisions of the Suffolk City Council on some very controversial issues, one has to appreciate the fact that they did make a decision.
Too often, in years past, it has been convenient to table the decision if it aroused any dissent, regardless of the merits of the issue.
I direct this to the ``no'' vote as well as to the ``yes'' votes because a decision had to be made, and the individual had to be willing to stand and be counted in either case. Even more rewarding was the fact that they were able to bring the issues to a decision in spite of some citizens who tried to reduce the debate to a personal, name-calling level or other whiners to be heard.
My compliments to City Council.
Sanford B. Chapman
Edward Avenue
Suffolk They agree with editor on racist comments
I wanted to congratulate Mr. Pruitt on an excellent editorial. I wasn't at the City Council meeting, but I can appreciate what he said. Leaders like Mr. Gillis create racial tensions where none should exist.
Mayor Jones can get tough with whites, but he is a wimp when it comes to getting tough with the tough, like Mr. Gillis.
Edward Unser
Oyster Bay Lane
Suffolk
I wanted to comment on Mr. Pruitt's editorial dealing with Paul Gillis and the City Council: Hear! Hear! Well said.
I hope maybe these people will take heed of it.
David Sylvia
Wilroy Road
Suffolk Gin owner now aims to be a good neighbor
I want to thank everyone who supported my efforts to bring cotton ginning activities to Suffolk.
The outpouring of citizens from the agribusiness and farm community, during the April 19 City Council meeting, endorsed those efforts and moved this program forward.
Suffolk Cotton Gin Inc. is indebted to Suffolk citizens for assisting us in this endeavor. Working with cotton producers to expedite their crop after harvest will be our primary goal.
Morris H. Glover Sr.
President,
Suffolk Cotton Gin Inc. Council member Rogers showed courage in vote
I hope those in Marian ``Bea'' Rogers' voting district appreciate the high-quality councilwoman they have placed in office.
She has the ability to know the difference between a ``state of the art'' cotton gin and one that was built in 1979. She realizes that, while cotton and cotton debris in itself are not toxic when burned, the pesticides that are used on it are. She has respect for our fire marshal's opinion that large amounts of smoke and toxic gas will indeed result from the highly likely fires that will occur. She comprehends that 10 pounds of particulates put into the air per hour is indeed an environmental threat and recognizes a dead tree when she sees one.
I imagine that she appreciates the fact that, just because the noise from the gin ``will not cause hearing loss,'' it does not mean that the described ``high pitched'' whine will not be noticed by residents. I would also venture to guess that she respects the opinions of other gin owners that gins should never be placed in residential areas.
If Byron McCreary had had a chance to rebut at Wednesday's council meeting, she most certainly would have been interested in the fact that Morris Glover is not a local resident of Holland, as his lawyer stated, and that Joshua Pretlow, the one property owner named as being in favor of the gin, does not live in the immediate area either.
I would venture to bet that she knows her city well enough to know that there is an abundance of room for a cotton gin to be placed in keeping with the suggested quarter-mile from residential areas. Mrs. Rogers' constituents have every right to be proud of the leadership in which they have placed their trust. We should all be so fortunate.
William Porter
South Quay Road
Suffolk Outpouring of support for home appreciated
Last Saturday was a red-letter day for Suffolk Habitat for Humanity. Our second house is dedicated, and ground is broken for the third.
Many, many individuals and groups participated in the months of work leading to this happy day. Although it would be impossible to name each one in a letter like this, we want to publicly thank all the participants who contributed.
The City of Suffolk has helped at every step with advice, contribution of utility tap fees, demolition and clean-up. Thirty-one companies have donated materials and/or services. Fourteen church groups have fed the construction volunteers. Forty-four financial contributors have given more than $31,000 to help us buy materials. And more than 100 people have come out to work on the house.
What an outpouring of community support these numbers represent! Suffolk can truly be proud of the volunteer spirit and the commitment of its citizens to improve the quality of life and the housing situation in our city.
Thanks, Suffolk! Let's keep on ``building lives, one house at a time.''
Frances L. Alwood
Suffolk Project Director
Habitat for Humanity Inc. Eagle award is rarely earned by age 14 or 15
In response to an article reported by Shirley Brinkley in the April 20 edition of The Sun:
Writing about a Girl Scout in Windsor who earned the Gold Award, Mrs. Brinkley quoted someone as saying that ``Eagle Scouts are only 14 or 15 when they receive their award while Girl Scouts have to be in the 10th grade to become a senior Scout.''
Although Boy Scouts may be as young as 14 when they complete the requirements for Eagle, it is very rare. I was 18 when I received mine, and everyone else I've seen who earned Eagle was at least 17. Only special cases allow a 14- or 15-year-old to get Eagle.
Sterling Brown
Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 30
Suffolk by CNB