E-mail topic: Dubious Sportsmanship

A reader asks: Should Barry Bonds or any other sports figure who used steroids be allowed in a sports Hall of Fame, have their names in the official record books, or be allowed to play in official competitions?

E-mail topic: Drug Dealer (Non) Punishment

A reader says: How do people feel about the recent drug dealers who pled guilty, were given severe prison terms then had those terms suspended to only a few months? One person pled guilty to selling over half a gram of cocaine two different times and less than half a gram of cocaine once. He was sentenced to a total of twenty-six years in prison then everything was suspended except for six months. There wasn't even any probation. Oh, he did get ordered to pay a $2,000.00 fine and court cost. Another guy was sentenced to eight years with everything suspended except for less than a month. Oh, there was another $2,000.00 fine and court cost. What's going on here?

E-mail topic: Pulaski Sidewalk Ordinance

A reader writes: The Pulaski Board of Mayor and Aldermen have approved on first reading an amendment to the city code regulating sidewalks. According to the newspaper article this amendment would "require" city property owners to "construct or bear the expense of constructing a suitable sidewalk and/or curbing along the entire frontage of their property". This would mean in many cases that the property owner in addition to paying some of the highest property taxes in Tennessee, would be required to spend not hundreds but thousands of dollars on sidewalks and give up a portion of their property for the sidewalk. Any comments?

E-mail topic: Giles County Court System

A reader asks: Why do so many people get probation on top of probation for the same charge?

E-mail topic: Should Commissioner Pay Be Raised?

A reader says via emal: At the June 19th Commissioners meeting County Commissioner Jeff Hatfield has indicated his intent to introduce a motion to set a regular monthly stipend for commissioners of $200 per month (12 months per yr ) instead of the current $60 and $30 they are paid to attend full court or subcommittee meetings. Does this mean they get paid whether or not they attend their assigned meetings? What opinion do bloggers hold on this topic??? Have you expressed your opinion to your local commissioner(s)?

E-mail topic: Would Reduced Representation Be a Good Thing?

Says a reader via email: At the June 19th Commission meeting County Commissioner Jeff Hatfield has indicated his intent to introduce a motion to REDUCE the number of commissioners from 21 (3 per district ) to 14. What opinion do bloggers hold on this topic??? Have you expressed your opinion to your local commissioner(s)?

E-mail topic: Nepotism in Public Office

Sayeth a reader via email: Taxpayers request that all County commissioners currently in office and all County government elected officials (department heads etc) PLUS those seeking to be elected, list on this blog ALL direct and indirect members of their families who are employed by the County... including cousins, second cousins, aunts, uncles, neices , nephews and in-laws, and identify what special attributes these family members have to justify hiring them.

Bloggers are requested to identify any such nepotism they can factually verify to help this identification process. DO NOT spread rumors; the public domain needs FACTS. Public employees are publically verifiable as are their salaries (call the Court House or School Office and ASK. This info CANNOT by law be refused to any taxpayer who requests it). WHY are these publically funded jobs NOT being advertised as required by state law? Is the State's District Attorney asleep... WHERE is the law enforcement FOR the taxpayer when it is needed???

E-mail topic: Why the heck hasn't the blog been updated lately???

A reader asks: "WHY SO QUIET? NO NEW TOPICS IN 10 DAYS."

I meekly answer, well... I've been busy on a lot of other projects, and I kinda let the blog slip. I mean, when I started this, I intended to be like Penny, and post a bunch of new topics every couple of days. But the reality is, that's more work than it sounds like. Especially when -- HINT, HINT -- nobody bothers to email me with topic suggestions. So, it's mostly my fault. I've just been very very busy, and I kept putting off blog updating until, well, until it became embarrassing how long the blog had gone without updating.

But that's in the past now. I'll straighten up and fly right. Expect more action here, real real soon now. (And those of you with topics you'd like to discuss... email em to me -- mcpeters@usit.net -- and I'll post them.)