Published: November 14, 2008 11:25 am            

RANT AND RAVE - Nov. 14

Suwannee Countians, it's time to speak your mind! How? By calling the Suwannee Democrat Rant and Rave hotline. The hotline never closes and is your way to let it out. You can let everyone know how you feel -- as long as you express yourself in a respectful way.

Note: In written entries to Rant and Rave, errors in spelling, grammar or punctuation are those of the authors.

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I'm just wondering why does it seam the utility costs have gone up in the city limits, and yet the work has gone down (trash pick-up only once a week now). When the trash was picked up twice a week, my cans were full. When it doesn't all fit into my trash cans, I hope the neighborhood stray dogs don't spread it out everywhere!

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Would the person who is so upset about the date for Halloween being changed please grow up? The kids really don't care what day it is celebrated as long as they get to participate. I moved here from another state and they always changed the date if it fell on the weekend, it is meant to be a safety factor. Also, there were at least 2 churches in Live Oak that held their Trunk or Treats on Oct. 31st. So a child really could go get treats that night if their parents could not take them any other night.

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Just prior to the election, I was very disappointed to see young adults downtown carrying racial signs and wearing false beards. Someone had actually sprayed yellow paint all over one of Mr. Obama's campaign signs, and I understand some of them were taken down as soon as they were put up. Is this really what we want to teach our children, that racial or religious bigotry is acceptable in America? Are we that small-minded, that ignorant? Let us practice respect for each other. Let us teach our children respect, tolerance, understanding and love.

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Yes, I am a concerned citizen of Live Oak wandering why Barack got a corner of the Democrat and I buy this paper twice every week. And I'm wandering why he didn't get any more exposure. Is it because he's not McCain?

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Ya'll run a thing in the paper about the delayed response with the O'Brien Fire Department. Ya'll also run where the Suwannee County fire service closed O'Brien Fire Department and took possession of two of their fire trucks.

And that is one of the biggest reasons why O'Brien could not respond to that fire. And maybe the people should sue Suwannee County for losing their home.



Editor's note: The fire in question occurred on Oct. 2. The manager of Station 42 was suspended and the fire trucks removed on Oct. 7.

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They need to do away with the Suwannee High School football team and replace it with the classes they had to do with the cutbacks like the art program and culinary art program.

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Yes I'm calling about Veterans Day. Veterans Day is an important day in our country. It takes time for just one day to remember those who gave their lives in wars to defend our country. Here we have this holiday to remember those veterans and here we are sending our children to school on that day, when they should be off taking time to remember our veterans. Why are our children going to school on Veterans Day when they should be off? It's not teaching them any way, shape or form take time to remember those veterans who fought and died to give us the freedom that we so richly have and take for granted so freely.

Mr. Scarborough, I think that is an issue you need to address. We have Columbus Day off and other days off that are not nearly as important as Veterans Day is. Please make a change. Thank you.

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This is regarding the Suwannee Animal Fair that was held over the weekend. My husband and I attended and we were just trying to find out why a fire truck siren had to be blown through the entire fair where there are horses and dogs that have a very acute sense of hearing. It was supposed to be about the animals and they ended up being abused because of the sirens and horns. We immediately left, because I do not subject my animals to that. Thank you.

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I am calling in regards to the city's decision to cut back on garbage pick up. Not only did they cut back, but they raised our bill as well. If the city would get in contact with Virginia. They have a program there where trash is picked up. It is burned. And the steam and heat from this plant heats housing projects. It heats government buildings. In the same order this steam and heat can be used to turn turbines which would produce electricity. Yes, it is a little inconvenience for the citizens, because they would have to separate. But all of this can be, the cans and bottles and plastics can be recycled. The garbage is being recycled to produce, not fill the ground. I think you on this matter.

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I'm concerned as to why our county schools are open on Veterans Day. This is not teaching our children to respect our veterans that died for our country to have the freedom that we have. I just don't think that's right. Thank you.

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What a shame that Suwannee County District Schools cannot celebrate and respect Veterans Day as being closed. We parents and citizens of Suwannee County and men and women who fought for freedom that we now have it should be respected and that we teach our children that it is something to be proud of. Maybe next year with our new superintendent it can be acknowledged as a holiday and we can have that day off to celebrate it. Thank you.

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Yes, I want to thank the Suwannee County road grading department for putting in lime rock and stuff there at 120th Street and 145th Road. They've done a really nice job and I'm really proud of you guys. We thank you very much and God bless.

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I want to talk about the garbage pick up only going down to one day a week. I was absolutely disgusted when I drove through town the other day. Businesses having their garbage piled on the streets because they weren't being picked up two and three times a week like they usually were. I had to have piles and piles of garbage through the neighborhood waiting for the trash to be picked up. I want to say this, our beautiful town is turning into a trash dump because the city is trying to save money in the wrong places.

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Callers to 208-8314 may express their thoughts, good or bad, 24/7 about community issues and politics, but not about private individuals or businesses. If you prefer, you may e-mail your comments to nf.editorial@gaflnews.com. You don't have to give your name, and please, take no more than 30-45 seconds for your comments. Let us know what's bugging you.

        

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