Other views

By Staff
Class on 1983 members sought
Editor,
The Hartselle High School Class of 1983 is planning its 20-year reunion for Saturday, July 19.
An informal free outdoor family-time is planned for the for the Sparkman Park Pavilions in Hartselle from 10 a.m. to noon that day.
A more formal paid dance will be held at the Huntsville Jetport that night from 7 p.m. to midnight with music, live DJ, and food for all.
At this time we are still trying to find everyone in the class and make sure that everyone gets invited by June 15. We have partial or complete information on about 105 classmates, but 115 are still unaccounted for.
A web site with detailed information on the reunion can be found at www.hartselleclassof83.com.
Anyone who has information on fellow classmates can contact Johnny Burks at jburks1@cullmancats.net, John Burnum at johnbarb@aol.com, or Leah Coleman Stephens at P.O. Box 1559, Athens, Al 35612.
John Burnum
HHS Class of 1983
Hartselle is a wonderful town
Editor,
Twelve years ago, my husband's employment required us to move from Michigan to Hartselle.
While my husband came to Alabama to work and locate a new home for us, our two daughters, Kim and Jami, and I stayed in Michigan for six weeks getting everything ready for the move.
We knew no one in Alabama and we were very nervous about a new home, new people, and new community. Our daughters were not looking forward to making new friends in a new school.
However, it didn't take long for us to realize that moving to Hartselle was the best thing we've ever done.
Within one week of settling into our new home, a basket of homemade cookies showed up on our doorstep along with a note that said, "Welcome to our neighborhood."
It didn't take long to learn that we were accepted into our new community and that it would the beginning of many new and wonderful relationships.
When my husband Jim became seriously ill two years ago, our friends and neighbors showed their love and support with cards, food, words and numerous acts of kindness.
A day didn't go by that we didn't receive a call, a note or someone stopping by to offer their services to help us out anyway they could.
There is no way that I can express my gratitude and appreciation to these wonderful friends and neighbors.
Now that I have become ill, again I am overwhelmed with the thoughtfulness of my little community.
The cards, flowers, food, and words of encouragement have helped our family tremendously. But above all, it is the lifelong friendships that we have established that have made life in our community a true blessing.
I could never begin to thank each one personally for all that has been done for us. I just want each and every one to know of the special place they hold in my heart and how grateful I am for all they have done for all of us.
To our wonderful friends and neighbors-Thank you for making our move to Hartselle the best experience of our lives.
Christine Lawson
Hartselle
Council's work is disappointing
Editor,
I went to a city council "work session" (recently). When I left, I felt that like I had just been to the circus.
What I witnessed was the most inefficient bunch of elected city leaders that I have ever seen. I thought the previous council was backwards, but now this council is attempting to outdo the other. I wasn't the only one that had the same reaction. Many people, since then, have openly expressed the same sentiment.
Example: Why should 12,000 plus people of Hartselle have to pay for any thing concerning the airport when there is only a small handful of airplanes there. I don't remember it being named Hartselle International Airport. What they need to do is quit buzzing the top of our homes.
Example: The council wants the people to foot the bill for the renovation of the old Burleson school building.
This is dead wrong. Why? The city of Hartselle doesn't own the building. The school system owns it. Let the school do the renovating with their own money. Looks like special interest to me!
Example: The council talked briefly about building a new high school. The overcrowding issue and the age of the building were mentioned. As of March 5, 2003, there were 3,070 students enrolled in the Hartselle school system. Of those, there are 538 county students enrolled. What are we trying to do, build a Hartselle/Morgan county school system? We have approximately 28 school buses at a cost of $58,000 each. This is such a waste. As a kid, I walked 2 1/2 miles to school every day, (one way), and never complained once about it. As for the age of the building, I have been in it several times. There isn't anything wrong with it that I can see. Build another school, and they will want us to renovate the old one like Burleson.
Example: Property taxes. Of your entire property tax bill, approximately 75 percent of the city part of your tax goes to the Hartselle school system. Then you factor in a part of the county and state, which also returns to the school system. Added together, almost 85 cents on every dollar of tax goes to Hartselle school system. Yet, they still want more money.
Another thing that upset me was when Frank Jones jumped up and started to walk out of the session when the city landfill issue was getting lengthy. Frank should realize that the position he as elected to was dangerous and subjective when he was elected. If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen.
There were members of the council who were not present. I guess Hartselle city business is not the top priority.
A lot of "No More Taxes" are starting to sprout up locally. People are tired of the same of "politics" being thrown in their faces. In a final note, I must add this. In Latin, "poli" means "many", and "tics" means "blood suckers". The city of Hartselle cannot survive effectively when the council tries to satisfy every person or entity and spend beyond their means.
Mike Dowdy
Hartselle