Our readers write — letters to the editor on NWTNTODAY.COM

Barker’s vote draws criticism To The Editor: House Bill 431 was presented by state Rep. Mike Bell (R) recently and it passed the House Education Committee by a vote of 14 to 5. This bill will allow certain private school diplomas and home school diplomas to be recognized as a legal diploma in Tennessee. These diplomas are given by schools that are already a legal means of acquiring a high school education in the state of Tennessee. According to the Department of Education, recognition of diplomas awarded by any legal means has no fiscal impact on state or local government. District 77 State Representative Judy Barker (D) was among those voting against this bill. As voters in her district, we should be aware that Mrs. Barker voted to discriminate against thousands of students and their parents across this state by voting not to recognize diplomas given by this legal means of education. In Tennessee, we have the right to choose between public, private or home school education for our children. Since we have the freedom to make that choice, then a high school diploma earned from our choice of education should be accepted. However, Mrs. Barker chose to vote with the liberal Democrats from Memphis to invalidate these diplomas. Mrs. Barker, where does your allegiance lie, with the liberal educational bigots of Memphis, or with the God-fearing people of your district who choose to educate their children in private Christian schools and home schools? Tina Elgin Kenton Progress made at animal shelter To The Editor: I am the manager of Ann’s Place, the animal shelter for Union City operated by the Ken-Tenn Humane Society. I feel I must address the letter that was in the paper on April 29 concerning our shelter. The readers need to know the truth about the comments made, so I will try to address them one by one. We do have a very strict policy regarding vicious dogs, but since this was addressed and explained, in detail, in last week’s paper I will concentrate on the other issues. Although we don’t yet have concrete flooring in our kennels, we do have wooden bases for the dogs. We work each day to improve their housing, and we are working on getting the concrete and the coverings for them. We depend on donations for this kind of thing and the Ken-Tenn Humane Society has been going full force with fund raising and other items for this very reason. We do have detailed plans for these items. Meanwhile, our dogs are kept in clean, safe kennels that are regulation size or even larger. Each and every kennel has houses for the dogs. It was mentioned in the letter that the concrete flooring and covering for the kennels are incidential items. To us they are part or our dream and our goal — one that we will accomplish, I might add. It was also stated we only put an ad in the paper once a month stating which animals we have for adoption. Perhaps the writer of the letter is not reading the whole paper. That is just untrue. In addition to our ads in the paper, we post all of our animals on Petfinder.com (the most widely viewed adoption site on the Web). Our postings include pictures, a bio of each animal and his vet record. This is a timely process, but we keep it updated because it is important. This is not an online adoption site. Once you go to the page, you can view animals in your area. The adoptions are conducted on-site at the local shelters. I would love it if everyone would go and check us out. You may just fall in love with one of our animals. We also take shelter animals to Petsmart once a month for our monthly adoption day there. This means a trip to Paducah once a month and it is done by all volunteer workers. We have adopted many pets to wonderful homes and will continue to do so. In response to the comment about the gift of land from the city for a shelter that has “had no progress done on it in a year.” All I can say to that is, come on down and see us. I am very proud of what has been accomplished on this once empty lot. We now have a shelter there. It may not be the finalized version but it’s our shelter. We have plans to put a building on this lot as soon as it is financially possible. We operate mostly on donations and fund raising and are getting closer each day to the day we break ground. We have spent thousands of dollars on the present shelter and the animals. We began taking care of the city’s animals four months before we received any payment from the city. We are at this time providing shelter, love, food and water, and full vet care to over 100 of our city’s abandoned or abused animals. Imagine the fate of these animals if we were not here. Prior to the involvement of the Ken-Tenn Humane Society, almost all animals impounded by the city were euthanized. Since our involvement, we have taken in over 500 animals, 223 adopted, 54 sent to rescue and 30 were re-claimed by their owners. If that’s not progress, I don’t know what is. I must give credit to a few of the people who make this all possible. Officer Scott Duncan, animal control officer, and the Union City Police Department have been a large part of our success so far. Officer Duncan goes above and beyond the call of duty in his dedication to ensuring animal safety and works with me daily to help improve our city’s animal control problems. Speaking of daily work, I need to give a great big thanks to our daily volunteers and workers. These people come in every day to help care for the animals, giving of their own time and hearts. We couldn’t do it without them. We also could not do what we do without the cooperation of The Union City Messenger. They always come through for us with courtesy and professionalism and help keep our city aware of what’s going on at our shelter. Lastly, I must address the comment about the “25-year-old trailer.” I have no idea how old the mobile home truly is but, what I do know, is that this “trailer” was donated by Green Acres and was in wonderful condition. Their generosity is part of the reason we are in operation today. Shame on that writer for that comment as she knew where the trailer came from. I have been the manager for this shelter fo a little over five months and have been very proud of the progress made. Elizabeth Myatt Manager of Ann’s Place Union City Tea party story tells half of story To The Editor: Once again, your writer, Glenda Caudle, has done a fully great job of presenting half of the story. Her April 29 column on tea parties is heavily steeped in the one-sided view of a small minority within the Republican Party. She gives the elitist impression that only she and a handful of other right-wing media pundits care about American troops or want the best for their country. For one thing, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano DID apologize for an intelligence report that said right-wing extremists were trying to recruit disgruntled troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. On FOX News on April 24, members of the American Legion said they had received a face-to-face apology from Secretary Napolitano that seemed sincere and heartfelt. Surely FOX News isn’t the “liberal media” she writes about, so I’m disappointed she missed that part of the story. I appreciate the patriotism of Ms. Caudle and this Mike Slater guy (a 24-year-old transplant from Yale) and completely support their right to protest and enjoy tea together. After all, they want the same great things for our country — freedom, prosperity, government by the people — that all of us want. But they shouldn’t misrepresent the patriotism of those who have different ideas of how to achieve those goals. David Carlton Union City Published in The Messenger 5.27.09