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Opinion

  •  Dear Editor:

     

  •  More than 80 dogs and a dozen other animals were rescued from a Union County puppy mill this week by the Union County Sheriff’s Department and the Human Society of the United States.

    The animals, many with health problems and living in unsanitary conditions, were carted off to the Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society, where they will be evaluated and eventually put up for adoption.

  •  Dear Editor:

     

    I am a Pit Bull owner. My husband and I own a “red nose pit” named Highway. I was alerted to the story in your paper by my husband while I was at work today. 

  •  Two recent pieces of economic news about Union County are encouraging.

    First, Union County’s employment trend from the state Center for Policy Research and Planning is one of the best in the state.

  •  The results of the Mississippi Curriculum Test are in and both the New Albany schools and the Union County schools did pretty well.

    Dr. Charles Garrett, New Albany superintendent, said, “Compared to last year, our district tested above the state average on everything. Of 18 tested areas, we improved in 12 from last year.”

  •  When I was in sixth grade, I won the long addition contest in my class. In case you don’t know what that is, I’ll explain.

    Two students would go to the chalkboard (hopefully, some of you remember what those were) and write a long column—usually 15 or so—two-digit numbers read off by the teacher. 

  •  It was an idyllic Friday night in New Albany. The skies were clear, the stars bright and the temperature comfortable.

    The parking lot was full, the concession stand was humming with activity, the stands were packed and several hundred fans were standing along the fence.

    The scene was perfect.

  •  The Union County School Board this week had to decide whether to continue on a course of upgrading the electrical systems in its schools or set out on a different course.

  •  We’re in search of a “proper” dog. My wife and I have very different views about what that is.

  •  Classes are underway in both the New Albany and the Union County schools, which means it’s a good time to promote several things related to safety.

    First, let’s concentrate on slowing down, especially near schools and crosswalks. During the summer we tend to forget about school speed limits. When school starts, we have many more students crossing the streets near schools.

  •  From the 1989 movie, “Field of Dreams,” comes the memorable quote, “If you build it, he will come.” It’s been used many times since to capture community aspirations for quality-of-life improvement projects.

    We think of “Field of Dreams” when we drive past the New Albany Sportsplex. We built it and they have come. By any measure, the project has been a success.

  •  My wife told me I shouldn’t write this column. She’s a bit superstitious about it, and she’s afraid I’ll jinx our son, Joe.

  •  The Union County School Board has voted to request a 4 percent increase in ad valorem taxes for the 2009-2010 year. Under Mississippi law, the Union County Supervisors are required to grant the request.

    The board decided to request the tax increase even though the preliminary estimate of the amount the county will receive in state money has been increased by $120,000.

  •  Union County residents will have an opportunity to find out more about a proposed county comprehensive plan at a meeting at 5 p.m. Monday in the Union County Courthouse.

    We encourage county residents to attend and offer their thoughts on the proposal drawn up by Slaughter and Associates, planners from Oxford.

  •  Forty-two years in the newspaper business. It can’t have been that long, I thought, as I was looking at the story in last Friday’s Gazette about me becoming publisher of the newspaper.

    But it has been that long. In fact, 42 years only counts the time I was working for a newspaper.

  • New Albany is awaiting word on whether it will receive $855,000 in money from President Obama’s stimulus package to make a much needed upgrade to its wastewater/sewage collection and treatment facilities.

  •  The decision by Union and Pontotoc counties to pool resources and hire one economic development director strikes us as a good one.

    The Union County Development Association, the Pontotoc County Chamber of Commerce and the Union and Pontotoc county boards of supervisors have decided to recruit one person to represent both counties.

  • Just think of it as a car payment. That’s what my wife says each time The Rocket goes in for repairs.

    The Rocket is my gray Acura sedan. It’s rather ordinary looking, but it rides really well, goes quickly when my foot wants it to, and gets 32 miles a gallon on the open road.

  •  The death of an 8-year-old boy in Ecru from an accidental shooting again has underscored the importance of handling and storing guns safely.

    While straightening up a bed, the boy found a loaded pistol under a mattress at his grandfather’s house. The gun went off, the bullet hit the boy in the head and a needless death was the result.

  •  Two important health-related events are coming up in New Albany and we want to give a nod to both of them.

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