Winds of change

This may prove to be the last editorial I write if the trend of judges to threaten to jail journalists for reporting embarrassing information and for refusing to identify the source becomes widespread. Instead of energetically prosecuting rogue politicians and government officials, judges are increasingly using scare tactics against potential whistle-blowers to subvert real justice. In Bradley County, the DA's office and the judicial system is geared to protect wrongdoing by a certain segment of the community while making a big show of prosecuting defenseless individuals over minor infractions. Now, with the new forensic lab at the justice center, Bradley County completes the circle that will guarantee freedom from prosecution for connected people. All processing of evidence will be handled in-house so cases like the Toby (Steve) McKenzie DUI will be unlikely to reach court in future. As it was, in the McKenzie case, the depositions and evidence were lost, but with the ability to process evidence locally, what guarantee is there that evidence will not be tainted at source and never reach court. The scandalous actions of the DA's office and the grand jury; and the secretive and manipulative actions of the Bradley County Sheriff's Office have all but destroyed faith in the honesty of the system. Now judges are threatening journalists, the final line of defense against a crooked government. Judges and those in the law enforcement profession, have always been respected and held in the highest regard by law abiding citizens but times are changing. The Bradley County judicial system is being threatened from within and local judges are allowing it to happen. There is no oversight or accountability - apart from in the pages of  The People News that is.
What do you think?

Fire! Fire!

The Bradley County Volunteer Fire Department and the county's contract with Cleveland for fire protection is a hot topic once again. Also again, there is no consensus on what to do. It seems that those who want a wholly independent service for the county have wasted valuable time in preparing the department to go it alone. Confidence that Fire Chief Dewey Woody could mold a viable department was sadly misplaced. Time is running out for Bradley County's fire board to make the changes necessary to move the department forward. On the other hand, those that relished the demise of the county force, wishing to give complete control to the city, seem to have the upper hand. The deficiencies they pointed out during the last contract negotiations still exist. The answer to the future of a county fire department may lay with the volunteers themselves. If they act quickly, force the removal of the dead wood, silence the self serving posturing of some elected officials and support a leader that is respected and has the ability to perform miracles, it may still be possible to save the day. Unfortunately though, if the necessary changes aren't made soon it may be inevitable that the volunteers be disbanded. That is just my opinion.
What do you think?

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