Letters to the Editor

'No isolated incident'

Editor:

This is in response to Crystal Edmonds letter to the editor October 10, 2007, about her bad experience at the tax commissioner's office.

No, my friend, this isn't an isolated incident. The people that work there act like they're extremely unhappy to be there and even when you try to maintain composure and a pleasant attitude, they act like you are a huge inconvenience to their routine socializing with each other.

I had to go in and get my husband's registration renewed last year. He had a service member's tag on his truck and left it here at home while he was on deployment to Iraq. I explained to the clerk that I was getting it for him since he was on his way to Iraq on military orders. I even took the orders in with me. I was told I needed to provide a "proof of service" letter signed by his commander.

I showed her the orders and repeated that he was being deployed, thinking surely that was proof enough of service! Obviously, I thought wrong and was told again I needed the "proof of service" letter.

Thankfully, he was still in the states at Fort Hood, Texas at the time and was still accessible by phone. He had his commander fax them what they wanted but it was still a ridiculous and unnecessary request considering the proof I had provided. But what was I supposed to do if he'd already left the country?

In all honesty, I shouldn't have been the least bit surprised at the actions of a Burke County employee. Over at Planters Electric, they demanded a signature from my deceased grandfather to sign over the account to my mother after she'd already shown them the death certificate. If they can request a signature from a dead man, I guess they think it's even easier to request things from someone that is fighting in another country. Do they know of some secret direct line to Heaven and Iraq?

Makes you want to take that sign in the office and shove it somewhere they won't allow you to say. Is it any wonder why it's there in the first place when they treat people the way they do?

Heather Menard

Waynesboro

Thanks, Old Fella team

Editor:

Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to read a letter that a friend of mine, Richard Daniels, wrote regarding the Old Fella Burke County Animal Rescue (OFBCAR).

First of all, I would like to publicly commend Richard for everything that he has done to insure that abused and neglected animals throughout Burke County receive the proper treatment that they rightfully deserve. Without his effort, along with those who chose to sacrifice their own personal time to join him in this goodhearted endeavor, many local animals would have perished.

It was a real pleasure to learn of the three acres of land that OFBCAR received in order to build a necessary shelter. This is an important first step in insuring that our neglected animals have a safe place to await adoption.

I would like to take this opportunity to state my support for the continued cooperation between the city of Waynesboro and OFBCAR. For a project of this magnitude, it is imperative that both levels of local government, city and county, join this organization in insuring that their ultimate goals are realized through mutual cooperation. The avenue of any possible state assistance should also be explored.

In addition to joining together to insure the completion of the shelter, it is indeed imperative that public, supplemented along with private, notices be published throughout all communication channels in order to insure that our citizenry is made aware of the necessity of animal rescue, along with the need to spay and neuter animals.

Richard Daniels and his colleagues at OFBCAR have done much to raise public awareness of these issues, but we as a community can join them in order to expedite the realization of their ultimate goal - the safety of all Burke County's homeless animals.

George DeLoach

Waynesboro