Opening act ignites Nightfall
Dave Dykes and the Grateful Hearts, or Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers? This local band started the opening night of the 2011 Nightfall Concert Series in Downtown Chattanooga. Opening for the Los Angeles band, Dawes, Dave Dykes took the stage as if his songs were in the top 100 charts hits, and sounded even better than that.
Not a person in the crowd wasn't clapping, up at the stage dancing, or tapping a foot to the beat of the drums, the overwhelming guitar solos, or the moving tone of Dave's voice.
They certainly served the opening night of the Nightfall Concert Series well, and will continue to keep faces smiling and people inspired with their music.
JORDAN HOGE, Rainsville, Ala.
It's Democrats not being honest
In response to a letter May 20, "GOP not honest with the people":
If anyone is not being honest with the American people, it is the so-called "Democrats" and the Democratic Party.
How many of you "progressive" congressmen and senators have enough guts to run as a Communist or socialist during your election cycle? I seriously doubt if any will accept this challenge because they know that most American voters are smart enough not to fall for this type of government.
I am thoroughly disgusted with the Republican Party for letting the Democrats get away with this. I expect you to tackle this issue head-on.
BYRON J. HENDRIX, Cleveland, Tenn.
District is center of global commerce
I thank the people of the 26th Legislative District for allowing me to serve in the Tennessee House of Representatives. Even though serving as majority leader is a statewide responsibility, nothing is more important than the growth and prosperity of the district.
We scored a huge victory last week when attempts to force Amazon.com to leave Tennessee failed. Thousands of people in Southeast Tennessee get to keep their job prospects alive. I'm proud and humbled by the resilience of our people, and with Volkswagen's grand opening upon us as well, our district is a center of global commerce.
Now that the legislative session is closing, I look forward to seeing those first books and DVDs shipping out from Chattanooga and Cleveland, and the first Passats roll off the line.
REP. GERALD McCORMICK, Majority Leader 26th Legislative District
Cockfighting hardens stereotype
I just read the article in Saturday's Chattanooga Times Free Press concerning making cockfighting a felony in Tennessee.
Any situation that pits animals against each other for sport should be at minimum a felony, and any lawmaker who tries to protect the participants should be charged as well.
"Cultural tradition" at one time could have included KKK meetings, slavery, moonshining, and other activities associated with life in the South. As long as these barbaric actions are encouraged and supported, the people of Tennessee will never be able to lose the stereotype of weed-chewing, tobacco-spitting, rotten-toothed, ignorant hillbillies.
MICHAEL McCONNELL, LaFayette, Ga.
Limited collection of debris baffling
Maybe someone out there - maybe the city of Chattanooga - could help us all understand what happened early last week.
Engel Street in East Brainerd, between Burger King and Dudley Street, is one block. There were 14 piles of post-tornado brush stacked right by the street, from one end of the block to the other, waiting for pickup.
A city of Chattanooga brush pickup truck, with its remote-control boom-scoop, arrived, picked up one of those piles in the middle of the block and left the neighborhood. A week later, 13 piles still remain beside Engel Street.
It wasn't 3:30, time to head for the city yards and go home. It was about 1:30.
Neighbors are all still scratching our heads and wondering why this happened and what other ways our taxes are being frittered away through inefficiency.
CRAIG COOPER
Bush also sought 1967 Israel border
Once again, you selectively print only the acts you want the public to read instead of reporting the entire story. Your editorial "Obama wants to set Israel border?" (May 21) omits a very important fact. President George W. Bush, a Republican mind you, had the very same idea and said so on national television years ago.
NBC and others aired the tape of him saying so this past week. Oops, your editorial conveniently forgot to mention that! Since your slogan is "To give the news impartially, without fear or favor," that omission just must have been an oversight on your part (right!), not the usual Republican distortion of facts.
You Republicans amaze me. Like religious zealots, you both twist the facts until they fit your purpose. How anybody could be so gullible as to believe you guys is beyond me.
RICHARD A. SHANKEN, Rocky Face, Ga.
Weapon story isn't accurate
The story (May 16) was not accurate.
First. Georgia does not now, nor has it ever had a "Concealed Carry Permit." We have and have had for over a hundred years a "Georgia Firearms License" or "Weapons Carry License."
This license always allowed the license holder to carry the weapon openly. It also allowed concealed carry. The 2010 law (SB 308) was a clarification of existing law and custom. Georgia was one of the first states to require a carry license ( December 1910).
I am a veteran Georgia police officer, and I can tell you that responsible gun ownership by law-abiding citizens is a plus to public safety in general. Most fear of firearms comes from lack of knowledge or misunderstanding. For many a lack of prior exposure and the negative hype placed on firearms define their fear. It is extremely unlikely (I have never encountered it) for a criminal to carry an exposed firearm. Most who do carry an exposed firearm have been issued a license that allows them to do so.
I always advise license holders "not" carry openly. A concealed weapon attracts less attention and is not visible to the bad guys.
PATRICK J. HAYES, Dalton, Ga.
Veterans can have funeral honors
As Memorial Day approaches, it is important to remind our veterans and their families that all honorably discharged veterans are entitled, by law, to have military funeral honors if requested.
The act passed by Congress in 2000 provides that every veteran may have a casket flag, two military personnel to fold and present the flag, and the playing of taps.
In many cases veterans who retired from military service will also have a rifle squad firing three volleys. If a veteran desires military funeral honors, it will be up to the families to request it at the time funeral arrangements are being made.
"Honoring Those Who Served" is a centuries-old military tradition that our veterans deserve and should be a part of their final salute.
DAVID COX, Tennessee Director Bugles Across America, Hixson