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By Staff
Board tied committee's hands
Editor:
I wonder what the school board committee feels after they got another cold, hard slap in the face from the school board, recently. If you aren't quite up to speed on this, let me refresh your memory.
First, this committee was picked to screen the applicants, and narrow the list of candidates for the next superintendent of Hartselle schools. During the process, Kathy White Goodwin, was quick to voice her opinion that an outside source be allowed to do the work instead of the committee. Then, she was for the committee, but hiring an outside firm to narrow the search, as if the committee wasn't capable of doing this.
The majority of the school board wouldn't allow the committee to handle the printing of the brochures and the mailing of them to applicants. The majority once again slapped them when they said the committee would not be allowed to participate in the interviewing process. They wouldn't even allow the committee to meet with the applicants.
The biggest slap in the face came when the committee was asked to rank the applicants. Once they were ranked, Dr. Dukes led the charge to not go with the committee's ranking, but to start with the last ranked applicant first. School attorney Bill Shinn and Sandra Sims-deGraffenried had told them they shouldn't do this.
So, as another person has expressed to the media, this entire process is null and void. Your work as a committee is as useful as wipers on a goat's behind. If I were on the committee, I would be openly and expressly insulted that you were selected to perform these tasks, but from the opening of the gate, your hands were tied behind your back. I also would hope that the city council would think long and hard about actions taken by board members when they choose the next school board members.
Mike Dowdy
Hartselle
East Highland thanks community
Editor:
On behalf of the members of East Highland Baptist Church, I want to say thank you to everyone in the community who came during our open house on Jan. 9. What a day we experienced! We had 360 in Sunday School, 675 in worship, and hundreds to come through during open house. It was just over a year ago when we broke ground and started construction-and throughout the whole process, I rarely went anywhere without someone asking about the building and commenting on the positive contribution it would be to the community.
Many of you have prayed for us, encouraged us, and helped us in many ways. There is no way to thank everyone adequately, but we are deeply grateful to Hartselle for your support. Our desire and prayer is to let God use the building and His people for His glory and to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with our community in as many ways as possible. Again, thank you and may the Lord always bless our wonderful city.
Walter M. Blackman
Pastor, EHBC
Good will still exist in Hartselle
Editor:
Helpfulness, honesty and hope for mankind still exists in Hartselle this Christmas season.
After a long day of Christmas shopping in Decatur, my husband and I stopped at Wal-Mart for some last minute items before returning home. We bought only a few items and went through the 20 items or less aisle. When we got home and unloaded the car, the ham was missing. We really needed this ham for a get-together in Cullman on Tuesday evening. We called back to Wal-Mart to see if anyone had turned in the ham. They had not done so and I really didn't think they would have.
My sister-in-law went with me and we went back to Wal-Mart to see about replacing the ham or buying another one. We went straight to the service desk and inquired about the missing ham. There it was. Someone had found it in their groceries and returned it to the store.
Honesty still exists in Hartselle. I thought with all the crime and evil that exists today, this honesty should be made known to everyone. Thank you to the unknown person for their time and trouble. This is what the Christmas spirit is all about. It sure made my Christmas merry with hope for the future.
Pat Nelson
Hartselle
Pastor thanks Shiloh family
Editor:
To Shiloh Baptist Church: Thank you for the retirement recognition service and reception you honored us with last Saturday. You have done a lot for us these last 22 years while I have been your pastor, but you have outdone yourselves this time.
Thank you to all the planners, musicians, photographers and videographers, decorators, food servers, and all who had a part in this. Your show of love and support was overwhelming and a wonderful tribute to God to show His love.
We appreciated your gifts of the portrait, the jewelry and the new car.
Also, we thank you for remembering our daughters, Sasha and Heather, with the gifts of the diamond crosses.
All you have done was a great surprise but, knowing the loving people you are, this just demonstrated your Christian character. We love you.
Rev. Harlon and Anne Hood