DATE: Sunday, June 22, 1997                 TAG: 9706200239

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 02   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letters 

                                            LENGTH:  209 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - SUFFOLK

Moving the early appearance portion of City Council meetings is nothing more than a poorly veiled attempt by elected and appointed officials to restrict public comments, especially when it is perceived those comments will be critical.

Well, that is tough. The council members had no problem listening to what citizens had to say prior to getting elected. It comes with the territory.

As for getting into the people's business sooner and streamlining government, council needs to address the problems in their own backyard first, starting with the city manager.

Council's reasoning seems to be if you make it inconvenient enough, through time constraints, subject matter, etc., folks will stay home. Sadly, this same attitude infects elected officials in other jurisdictions.

Council's recent action is not Suffolk's first attempt at impeding input. After a December 1991 retreat at the 4-H Center in Wakefield, former City Attorney William Johnson and Manager Rick Hedrick proposed that council ``allow'' them, appointed officials, to review the topics of speakers at early appearances. If the issue, in ``their'' opinion, could be handled administratively, the persons named would be removed from the list until Hedrick could ``talk'' to the individual. In other words, a controversial issue or political hot potato might never have seen the light of day. In reality, it was just another blatant attempt at censorship.

I have no intention of being intimidated by those elected to represent me. It is my sincere hope that others will not either. If I have something to say, I'll attend the meetings and speak my mind, whether they set the time at 6:30, morning or night!

Let me remind council that the Bill of Rights to the Constitution was written with the sole purpose of protecting citizens and their rights from the government, not the other way around.

Richard R. Harris

Sleepy Hole Road

Suffolk Goal of new time slot: Restrain the citizens

To break the yoke of tyranny, our founding fathers created a document called the Bill of Rights. Suffolk's city council members never must have heard of it.

Their form of governing - of the council, by the council, for the city manager - was evident in the decision to change the time of early appearances by citizens from 7 to 6:30 p.m.

Why? To restrain the voice of the people. Councilman Curtis R. Milteer even proposed that early appearances not be televised. Then, after voting for the change, he said afterward that council should change it back to 7 p.m.

In 1991, we fought and won the battle on changing early appearances and thought the issue was dead.

Once council members are elected, they become impervious by citizens, but they become putty in the city manager's hands.

To heap insult upon injury, those unable to speak at early appearances are asked to submit comments in writing to the city manager for a response.

Who elected the city manager? Council, by its actions, has admitted it is subordinate to - and a rubber stamp for - any and all actions of the manager.

When election time rolls around next May, remember those who forgot they were elected by the people to represent the people. Vote on their behavior as council members, not on what they say when they are asking for your vote.

Talmadge C. Jones

Harbor Road

Suffolk What a shameful way to treat unwanted pets

I am writing to whoever continues to drop off dogs on rural roads.

If you think you are giving the dog a chance by dropping it off in the woods, where some farmer may adopt it, you are dead wrong. If the dog doesn't get hit by a car, starve or die of thirst, it eventually will resort to killing our livestock to survive.

For a week, starting June 1, my farm was menaced by a male, black and white border collie. When I first saw him, I fired a couple of shots over his head to scare him off, thinking that this beautiful dog was a new pet of one of my neighbors, but no one knew anything about him.

Several of my neighbors had made numerous attempts to approach him, but to no avail. We tried to humanely trap the dog, but he ignored the trap. The dog killed several of my ducks and chickens and, if I had not stayed up for two nights, probably would have killed everything else on my farm.

We were able to shoot the dog twice but did not kill it. The dog was finally shot by animal control.

What a shame for such a beautiful dog to die this way! But where was his owner? Didn't his owner care that he was missing, or was he dropped off? If the dog were lost, for how long?

No one on Desert Road knew from where he came, only that he was quite a menace for some time. He menaced my home for a week.

I people don't want their animals, what makes them think we rural people do?

Rick and Brenda Lentz

Desert Road

Suffolk People's voices heard

The people have spoken, and the Republican nominee for the 76th District seat in the House of Delegates is S. Chris Jones.

I support the people's voice at the poll, for, in this primary, the process was at work: the ``We, the People''/Personal Responsibility campaign gave people a choice. For us, it was an exhilarating and learning experience. We are all winners!

I am thankful for every person who worked on our campaign. These are the most wonderful and ethical people I have ever worked with.

I am very proud of our clean, sincere, hard work and more so of the fact that no volunteer of the ``We, the People''/Personal Responsibility Campaign is a member of or is involved with any group which, under guise of conducting a poll, would slander another candidate, even by insinuation.

The campaigns operated under the process. The party works.

A sincere thank you to the many who responded positively with actions or questions and a large, hearty appreciation to the very special core of volunteers who dedicated themselves to this campaign and to the people of the 76th District.

Betty Jolly Perkinson

Bennett's Pasture Road

Suffolk

Editor's note: Perkinson was a candidate for the Republican nomination. All-star performers, even without the title

When will favoritism stop playing a major part in all-star selections for Peanut Pony baseball?

The King's Fork Bronco team came in first in tournaments in Whaleyville and finished second in the season; however, only one player was selected for all stars.

Will the coaches ever grow up and learn that the year's stats should play a role in the selection? How do you explain to 11- and 12-year-olds, who bat in excess of .800, why they do not make it to all-stars? These are players who give their all, who never miss a game or practice and get no recognition from any association but their own.

How do you explain why a coach, who comes in second during the season and first in tournament, gets only one vote for all-star coach, and that was his own, because he felt he could have an awesome all-star team if the kids were selected on their ability?

Have coaches and parents forgotten what we are here for? For the last two years, I have voted against all-star for girls softball for the very reason that I hate to see children's feelings hurt.

King's Fork Bronco baseball team came in first in the tournaments because they deserved it. They are all all-stars to me.

The coach and my husband, Jimmy Story - in my opinion and in the opinion of parents and players from other Bronco teams - is the best. He doesn't lose his cool, and he is one of very few coaches who praises players on opposing teams for a good hit or a good play. I hope he always remains that way.

Way to go, King's Fork Broncos!

Linda Story

President

King's Fork Athletic Association

Suffolk Sorority's members at work for community

You see our faces many places-

at the local cancer relay, serving beverages at Summer Celebration or selling tickets at Peanut Fest and Balloon Fest.

We are Alpha Omicron Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. We are often asked what we do with all the money we raise, so we would like to list some of the charities that we have been a part of:

In 1996, we raised more than $8,000 for the cancer relay, donated $100 to the Nansemond-Suffolk Rescue Squad in memory of Tony Gardner, presented a $500 scholarship to an Obici School of Nursing student, gave a $100 food gift certificate at Thanksgiving to a family with a terminally ill child, donated food for the Children's Center open house, gave $100 to a family with a seriously injured child in Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters and provided a family with a $100 supermarket gift certificate and a $200 department store gift certificate at Christmas.

In 1997, we participated in a floating baby shower for the Crisis Pregnancy Center, donated $100 to an accident victim and $500 to a child cancer victim, purchased sleep wear for a young lady awaiting a heart transplant, participated in the annual Sweetheart Ball with other chapters to give a local high school student a college scholarship, donated to the Hop-a-Thon for Muscular Dystrophy, celebrated our adopted grandma's 100th birthday at Autumn Care, donated $250 to Nansemond-Suffolk Rescue Squad, participated in the food drive for the Homeless Shelter, donated $100 to King's Fork Athletic Association and $200 to flood victims in North Dakota.

Our average membership is 15 women. We work hard and play hard. The next time you see our smiling faces, please think of what we do and dig deep into those wallets.

We thank the community and all the wonderful people over the years who have supported our causes.

Helen T. Czernik

Publicity chairman

Suffolk Uplifted by the caring

There are no words to express all the thanks for the hard work and time that many fine people have given to us all.

It would be wonderful if one could personally thank each individual who has been a friend through cards, phone calls, etc., but this is impossible. We are very fortunate to know those who are always willing to help others. Friends and prayers are what make this a wealthy and strong community. We are proud of you all!

As I looked around during the dinner, I saw those who know what it is like to deal with illness and stress. This seemed to make them want to help even more.

To each and every one who had a part in the benefit dinner for my brother, Cary Adams, thank you!

Dianne, Jack and Adam Brinkley

Longstreet Lane

Suffolk An appealing message

After listening to an interview on Friday, June 6, I was pleasantly surprised to hear a new political voice speaking for me. The candidate was Dan Evans.

I support what Mr. Evans was saying about the personal property tax. He wants to eliminate it. I support the idea of investing more in education. I support his idea of getting tough on criminals.

I hope Mr. Evans will keep up the good work, and I'll support him in November!

Ben Smith

Rodgers Road

Suffolk

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