Your Opinions

By Staff
Cheerleading process unfair
Editor,
We'd be outraged if basketball coaches allowed someone to lift players up to make baskets at tryouts for the varsity basketball team. If attempting to hit or catch a baseball proved required skills for baseball, everyone would make the baseball team! When varsity cheerleading candidates are assisted by spotters to prove they can do the required tumbling and are then selected as cheerleaders over girls who tumble alone, the sponsors aren't setting reasonable guidelines for required skills. When tumbling is removed from JV overnight, expect complaints!
The students are not to blame for the questionable cheerleader selection process at the high school this year. The sponsors are the ones who failed to set reasonable standards and stick to them. To be honest, some of the strongest cheerleaders' parents are administrators. However, some of the strongest cheerleaders were also not selected. Even so, no cheerleader should be questioned about their placement. Most of them have worked for years for this honor. The sponsors, however, have hurt the process.
My request to the superintendent and the board is to make this level again. Kids don't understand why sponsors changed standards. Unquestionably, girls with superior skills were left out. There is significant talent this year and not all strong candidates were selected.
This is supposed to be about recognizing equal ability level of the kids and making a place for all who qualify. There should be several more basketball/football cheerleaders evidenced by their skills.
Also, thank you, Miss Nave for being so level.
Janie Grammer
Hartselle
State moved in right direction
Editor:
The Alabama State Legislature and Governor Bob Riley should be commended for enacting crucial laws to prevent animal cruelty. During the 2006 legislative session, the Alabama state Senate and House passed laws to help reduce pet overpopulation, to make barbaric hog-dog fighting illegal, and to prohibit the trophy shooting of trapped animals at canned hunts and over the Internet.
Every year thousands of healthy dogs and cats are euthanized because there are not enough good homes for them. By passing a law requiring the spaying and neutering of dogs and cats in shelters, the Alabama legislature and Governor have sought out effective solutions to pet overpopulation.
Additionally, hog-dog fighting is a cruel form of animal fighting, pitting a trained attack dog against a feral pig for the purpose of entertainment and gambling. Alabama became the third state to outlaw this barbaric practice. Canned hunts allow paying customers to shoot and kill animals in fenced enclosures with no chance to escape, while Internet hunting involves shooting and killing these animals from a remote location via pay-per-view slaughter. Alabama lawmakers rightly put an end to these inhumane and unsportsmanlike activities in 2006.
The anti-cruelty laws of a state are a reflection of our basic values and attitudes toward animals, and this collection of bills is a measurable step forward for the state of Alabama. The Humane Society of the United States, on behalf of our more than 92,000 members and supporters within the state, commends lawmakers in Alabama for passing this raft of legislation to protect animals from cruelty and abuse.
Michael Markarian
Executive Vice President for External Affairs, The Humane Society of the United States
Thanks for Earth Day support
Editor:
The Hartselle Beautification Association and Hartselle Junior High School sixth grade science department would like to take this opportunity to thank the following sponsors for making Earth Day 2006 at E.A.R.T.H. Park an enormous success: Tennessee Valley Authority, Hartselle Utilities, Flint Creek Watershed Project and Hartselle Rotary Club.
With continued support from such generous sponsors, Hartselle's annual Earth Day educational event will continue to grow and leave a valuable, lasting impression on Hartselle's youth.
Hartselle Beautification Association
Hartselle Junior High School sixth grade science department