Letters to the editor

By Staff
Bus driver’s prayer
What is a school bus driver?
A school bus driver is a person who smiles in the morning and in the evenings and eats Rolaids in between.
A school bus driver gets there when no one else can, finds houses that don’t exist and children with no names.
School bus drivers have eyes in the back of their heads and hear every word even in sign language.
School bus drivers are immune to noise.
A school bus driver’s favorite words (besides “good morning”) are “sit down.”
Sometimes a school bus driver gets tired but seldom gets mad and always, faithfully, gets there.
A Bus Driver’s Prayer
Please, Lord, watch over me this day. Please help me remember to watch all five mirrors, two dozen windows, eight gauges, six warning lights, six dozen faces, three lanes of traffic and keep a third eye open for wobbling bicycles and day-dreaming pedestrians, especially teenagers wearing headsets who are in another world.
Please, Lord, help me hear all train whistles, truck and automobile horns, police sirens and the two-way radio.
Please, Lord, give me a hand for the gear lever, the steering wheel, the route book, the radio microphone and the turn-signal lever.
And, Lord, please grant me self control to keep my hands away from Johnny’s neck.
And, one more thing dear Lord, please don’t let Mary be sick all over the bus.
And, finally Lord, please watch over all of us so that we can do it again next year.
Joan Dear
Hartselle
Photographer did great job
Editor:
The things we learn just by asking a friend: I was not aware of the talent we have in downtown. I was in need of having my children’s photo and family picture taken. I found out that just downtown was a studio called Photography by Amanda K, located on the west end of town. Just let me share with you, she was great.
Because we all know a picture is worth a thousand words, Amanda captured shots of my children that will hold them at this age forever because they grow up so fast. So let me say thanks to Photography by Amanda for giving me that memory to hold onto.
Wayne Jones
BHS principal change improper
Editor,
Friday’s article (in the Decatur Daily) regarding the new Brewer High School Principal had an error. Mr. Booth’s experience as a principal was with Holt High School, not Hillcrest. However, this is much more forgivable than what was done by those at Morgan County Schools.
The members in favor of the motion ignored all the warning signs: Holt’s AYP record, the transfer to transportation, wanting this job while awaiting a brand new school at home. They are more willing to blindly bet on the unknown rather than promote those with proven records. These board members are the ones lacking common sense!
Mr. Balch’s hanging of his hat on experience is nauseatingly hypocritical. Just two years ago he was asking voters to overlook his lack of experience. He had none. He campaigned on promoting from within, yet passed over more qualified candidates from Morgan County. I suppose our inexperienced Superintendent felt better with Hartselle’s leftovers. But had our in-system candidates been interested in the Hartselle job, where would they have placed in reference to Mr. Booth? The tailgate of my truck has paint pits from carrying a Balch magnet for four months. I am ashamed.
The Brewer community has a much higher character. Let’s not allow ourselves to be as inept as these five officials. We must support Mr. Booth, with whom our success is now shared. It is the true Brewer people – administrators, teachers, coaches, students and community – that hold our true destiny of success. Mr. Booth will have the opportunity to join in such successes regardless of the powers that shouldn’t be.
Kerrick J. Whisenant
Brewer High School Class of 1994
Lacey’s Spring
Respect showed for soldier
Editor:
To the citizens of the United States that reside in Decatur. As a Patriot Guard Rider I and many others were invited to the funeral of SSG Josh Rath. Even though it was bitterly cold, friends and many motorcycle riders from as far away as Oneonta, AL began to show up at Calvary Assembly of God at 0900. I am always impressed with the turn out at a funeral for a fallen hero of our land. The temperature was 35 degrees with a wind chill of 21! The American flags that were too many to count were standing straight to the east. At the arrival of the body at 1030 hundreds of friends and family are here as the military gives this fallen hero great honor as only they can do.
It is only 10:30 a.m. and as I look out the corner of my eye across the Beltline (Hwy. 67) there are many well wishers gathering. Well, the body is carried into the church with much pomp and honor. The funeral is not over till 1 p.m. or later. Have any of the well wishers left due to the cold, No! As far as the eye can see from the church looking north on the Beltline there are cars literally side by side and perhaps a thousand people there to pay their respect.
As we leave the church there are 50 or so Patriot Guard Riders with patriotic, military and many American flags flying so grand from their bikes. It is a beautiful site to behold. As we begin the funeral escort north on the Beltline the well wishers are lined up for three or more miles until we turn west on Hwy. 24 to Moulton, AL 20 minutes away. Well the crowds begin to thin out but there are still well wishers and flags flying all the way to the grave site.
Thank God we live in a nation where the people can so easily gather and pay their respects. Once at the cemetery there is a graveside ceremony with full military honors befitting this young 22-year-old hero. A man that chose to serve his country. It is bitter cold this day but no ones spirit has waned.
I wonder, would my hometown turn out like this for a young fallen soldier? I just don’t know and really don’t want to find out.
To the citizens of the United States that reside in Decatur, Alabama. As a Patriot Guard Rider, I salute you for your patriotism, honor and respect to another one of America’s fallen heroes. Thank you for serving him. May God look down on Decatur, AL and bless you for your patriotism. Remember, no one left behind or forgotten!
Pastor Michael Luna
Patriot Guard Rider
Madison
Downtown lights are great
Editor:
I’m not a writer and have no desire to be one, but I did want to share some shots of the new street lights on Main Street.
I, like many others, have been wondering what the orange cones and holes were for near the sidewalks. When the light poles went up, I finally figured it out.
Anyway, I had no sporting events to shoot that night and wanted to see how the new lights looked after dark. Knowing that we are still pretty safe to walk around downtown Hartselle at night with a high-dollar camera, I made a few shots. I was surprised to see the difference the light made in the beauty and safety.
You will notice the new lights on the left side of the photographs have not been turned on yet.
I have no idea what the project costs, but it does make our city appear more inviting.
Gregory Smithson
Hartselle
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