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By Staff
Greenhaw deserves recognition
Editor:
Over the past eight years I've had the wonderful opportunity to work with a man of great integrity and determination: Dexter Greenhaw. Dexter is the band director at Hartselle High, and I, along with Jeff Vaughn, serve as an assistant director.
I'd like to better introduce you to my colleague.
Dexter is a teacher in the truest sense of the word. He spends endless hours with the kids of this community- not just the high school band kids- to further their musical and moral education. He is an exemplary Christian, and he encourages the kids to do their best on and off of the field. He is more than a teacher to many of them; he's a father-figure, a coach, and a friend. The students love him, and rightly so. Dexter sacrifices much of his personal time to provide for the students.
Dexter also strives to make certain that the band represents the city of Hartselle well. The band is known throughout the state as one of the finest, and the band hall boasts numerous trophies and awards that prove this fact. Mr. Greenhaw, however, does not allow these rewards to inflate his ego. He merely tells the students to continue to improve in order to be the best. He's said on countless occassions, "It's the trophies of the heart, not the trophies of this world, that matter."
In a community that is primarily driven by athletics, band, choral, and arts programs often go unnoticed. It is wonderful to be recognized by peers throughout the state for having a superior band program; however, it's often discouraging when community recognition is faint or seems non-existent. Band students work just as hard as any other student group on campus and deserve recognition, as well.
Dexter Greenhaw gives to this community, and he does far more than his job requires. He certainly did not ask me to write this letter, but I feel that Dexter deserves a thank-you for his hard work and dedication. On Friday night after attending a game, why not stop by and thank Mr. Greenhaw and the students for their hard work? Without doubt, they deserve it.
Jerome Ward
Asst. Director of Bands
English Teacher
Hartselle High
HU board member feels story wasn't accurate
Editor,
The Hartselle City Council and the Hartselle Utility Board have been working to develop sound policies that address the need for expanded sanitary sewer service in our community.
The members of both bodies are attempting to strike a balance between public health and environmental concerns on one hand and cost issues on the other.
This effort has produced a substantial dialogue between the council and the board. There are different points of view on some issues. However, the two bodies are committed to working through their differences and developing a plan of action that best serves the people of Hartselle.
Unfortunately, it appears that the editors and at least one reporter from (a daily newspaper in Decatur) do not share this goal of constructive dialogue and progress for Hartselle.
In (an) article of Sunday, Aug. 18 "Knight won't stop sewer billing-but won't help either," (the article says) "If homeowners refuse to connect, HU wants to bill them anyway."
This statement is in error. Previously, the board did bill non-connected customers whose residences were within 200 feet of public sewer and who could be served to gravity flow, based upon a 1966 Hartselle City ordinance.
However, since discontinuing the practice this February, the board has not indicated that it has any intention or desire to bill such non-connected customers.
In addition, the board has not indicated to the council at any time that the council's proposed new ordinance should in any way call for billing of non-connected customers.
What is additionally disturbing about the misinformation in (the) article is the fact that the (paper) has provided so little coverage of the board's meetings for the last six and a half months.
HU Board minutes reveal that a (paper) representative attended only three of the last 13 board meetings. Ironically, one of the few meetings (the representative) did attend was Feb. 18, when the board discontinued the billing of non-connected customers.
Apparently, the real business of this board does not warrant the (papers) time or energy.
Instead, the newspaper appears more interested in the cheap shot where they choose to take it, even if the truth has to be stepped on the process.
When the leaders of the city work together to deal with tough issues, the last thing they need is an out-of-town newspaper trying to stir things up just to sell papers.
This is especially true if that paper won't let the truth get in the way of a "good" story.
I urge the (the paper) to acknowledge its error and to move on to more accurate coverage of the actions of our city' council and boards.
Arthur George Howell III
Hartselle Utilities Board
Chairman
Family hurt by cemetery thefts
Editor:
After suffering a massive stroke, my aunt, a native of Hartselle, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 27th.
Her funeral was directed by Peck Funeral Home, and she was interred in the Hartselle City Cemetery Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m.
She was a kind and generous woman with a truly gentle spirit. She is, and will continue to be, missed by those who knew her best.
Numerous friends, neighbors, and family members sent beautiful wreaths and baskets of flowers which more than covered her grave.
This floral expression of love and concern brought a degree of consolation, knowing that so many cared and mourned her passing.
However, the flowers adorned her grave for only a few hours, because they were stolen, under cover of darkness, Thursday night. When my uncle went to visit the gravesite on Friday, he found the flowers had been stolen, with little left except the harshness of the red clay and floral debris.
Will people ever make enough money that they won't resort to this kind of baseness and greed, inflicting even more grief on a family mourning the loss of such a dear loved one?
Ron Hogan
Huntsville