Readers' Hotline 3/20/13

What happened?
I have a few comments about the Town of Fries. The birding [trail] they are going to build is silly because it floods down there every time it rains. What happened to the restaurant and gift shops that were going to be built in the old firehouse building? And the train depot? [Former Congressman] Rick Boucher got the money for that when he was in office. Why hasn’t it been started? There are a lot of people out of work, carpenters that would be willing to work on it. The money from the old mill site, what happened to that? Nobody ever says. The only good thing in Fries is the fire and rescue department and they really do a good job. The city council, I have known nothing that they do. They just want their name in the paper.

Worship or gossip?
This goes out to all the people that go to church and want to sit and criticize and judge people in the church. If that’s the only reason you go to church, you shouldn’t even be going to church at all. A lot of people don’t agree with you sitting and whispering and talking and looking around at people, judging the people that go to church and try to respect the Lord the way that it should be. These people know who they are and you need to find another place to go to church or do your worshiping in an alley somewhere.

Early workout
I am a member of the Galax Wellness Center and I was wondering. I saw a city official over there after 9 o’clock. I just wondered if that was in his job description or is that on my taxpayers dollars? I want to know if I am paying him to work out?

Nosy neighbor
I was calling in reference to the call you had in Monday’s Gazette titled, “shameful,” about trash in the yard. The person that done the calling is undoubtedly someone that either don’t have kids living with them or don’t have kids in the neighborhood that they feed and take care of a little bit and give them snacks. Yeah, some things do get stirred around in yards. It just happens. But mainly what it sounds to me like is some busybody nosy person that is sticking their nose in to somebody else’s business. They shouldn’t worry about it. That’s the problem. What is that person living like? That’s what’s shameful. All they have got to do is put their nose in somebody else’s business.

Kick him out
We need to get rid of that Governor McDonnell. You people with children and Medicaid or Medicare or whatever you need. And the loss of jobs and everything that has happened. First he tries to close the training center and now he is not expanding the Medicaid that people desperately need. He’s got a big grin on his face in the picture in the paper. That is not the kind of leadership we need for Virginia.
Editor’s note: McDonnell’s term is ending this year and, as per Virginia law, he can’t be re-elected. So, you’ll get your wish in 2014.

Class dismissed
I received my paper and was quite concerned about the “introduction to Islam class” [held by the Oracle Institute] at Independence. I think it is very unnecessary to even study about Islam and the Muslim empire. We need to study more about the American history and what we stand for. We know what the Muslims have done to America, so please don’t let this come in and mix the minds of our young people or anybody else. You are headed for trouble if you keep this going. We live in a free country. Let’s keep it that way. Please stop this right now.
Editor’s note: So, your idea of maintaining a “free country” is to discourage the free expression of religion? Interesting.

Picked wrong fight
I’m calling in reference to Governor McDonnell not wanting to approve the Medicaid expansion plan. I hope that he doesn’t think that he is speaking for all the people about not wanting to go forward and just approve it. He is not. I don’t know who he is even speaking for. He is not speaking for me and several other people I know. As far as the Medicaid expansion plan, why not go ahead and approve it so people [will be] able to have the things they need with this program? It doesn’t make any sense to not do it. The only reason they don’t want to do it is because it is President Obama’s plan and they fight him on every corner. He is not just certain people’s governor. He is everybody’s governor in Virginia and I totally disagree with him not approving the Medicaid expansion plan. Everybody does not support him in what he is doing – fighting the president on something so simple as doing what needs to be done for the people and for the country.

Entitled to raise
This is a comment about the superintendent getting [the same] raise in Grayson County schools as other employees. I think he should get the raise. He has worked for his education. If [the caller] doesn’t like the income she is getting, go to another county. Start trouble there. Grayson County is a great county school. My son has went to school there. You couldn’t ask for a better school system. Yes, I think he is entitled to a raise just like the rest of the employees.

Working against poor
The Republicans are once again working against the poor. They want to cut all the domestic programs they can and cut nothing from the very rich.

Potties needed
We are coming up on another softball season here in Grayson County where the little elementary children can form teams and play softball. Last year, there were no restrooms available at the practice fields. Sometimes there would be four teams of little children anywhere from 6 years old to 10 playing softball up there and they were having to run down in the woods and out behind a metal shed to use the restroom. The only restroom available is about 200 yards away up at the big ballpark and the little children can’t make it that far and part of the time the gate wasn’t even unlocked. Is this any way to treat our children? I think there needs to be some port-o-potties put up at the practice fields so these kids will have a place to use the restroom without having to go to the woods or out behind the metal shed up there and relieve themselves. There are enough taxes paid in Grayson County to afford a couple port-o-pots at the practice fields at the recreation park. This needs to be looked at and I hope all the parents will take a look and say it is time to change this.