Fowl play

If you thought I wouldn't be wading in on the chicken house debate then you were mistaken. On the one side of the coop you have a group of people that are doing everything in their power to stop a landowner from legally using his land to his best benefit. And on the other side you may think you would have the landowner stating his case but it is Bradley County Planning Commission member Mel Griffith, that is defending the individual's property rights and taking the heat. It has been said that Griffith has a conflict of interest because he owns and runs a chicken house himself  and should stay out of it - but should he? The protesting group may not be aware of it but it is partly thanks to Griffith that they have been able to enjoy the pleasures of country living in a nice subdivision at all. But more about that later.
Yes, I know Mel writes for this paper and my about to take his side will likely be deemed a conflict on my part - then so be it, but it is not the truth. The truth is that Griffith would take the heat for the chicken house protesters if he thought their property rights were being threatened. He may not state his case in the most diplomatic manner and he may not take fools lightly but he is as straight as an arrow. He would never think of using environmental or historical leverage to get what he wanted. Or a church for that matter. He says exactly what he means and it means exactly what he says. That is rare in a person nowadays and one of the things that I like about him. Using environmental and other issues to win the day may have proven itself to be a working strategy but the people who use those tactics are being devious in my opinion. Mel would not do that.
This is not a controversy as it is being presented by the protesters. It is not about the protection of a church or saving a stream from pollution, it is about winning, winning a fight to continue the way of life they have become accustomed to and to do it using every trick in the book even if it sacrifices personal integrity. There are two basic types of life style, rural and urban. When urbanites take up residence in a rural area city life can start to rub off on to the local community causing friction, as we are witnessing here and quite frankly, there has not been found an amicable answer to the problem and probably never will. Different life styles do not mix. I am a townie. I now enjoy the rural life but it took some getting accustomed to. On the street where I live there are houses on one side and mobile homes on the other, but against general opinion there are many equally well maintained mobile homes as there are houses and the people are a mix. Some are good neighbors and some are not. That's life in the country but it takes getting used to.
Now as to why Griffith helped the chicken house protesters? Until Bradley County had a volunteer fire service it was unusual to see a subdivision out in the county. That is because lending institutions were not prepared to lend large sums to developers because insurance companies would not insure the dwellings they built. It was difficult to

"What do you think" Continued

get fire insurance - and costly. Then a group of rural citizens decided they would volunteer their services to change this dilemma. Mel Griffith was one of the first to give of his services. He wanted to preserve the rural way of life and property while at the same time accommodating the developers. When countywide zoning was enacted, Griffith agreed once again to serve his fellow man by becoming a member of the Bradley County Regional Planning Commission. His recent actions reflect the whole reason the planning commission exists - to protect rural life and to accommodate newcomers in harmony with country ways.
The chicken house protesters have a right to protest whenever they disagree and to use the system to win the argument if they can but they should understand that in the long term they may be damaging the very life style they are seeking to protect because country people, their neighbors, are not stupid, they recognize the ploy they are using and I wager will not thank them for it.

That's what I think. What do you think?

To some, it's trash.

Before we continue I would like to mention a number of complaints I received from people having The People News thrown into their yards. I am in complete agreement with those people. It is infuriating to have unwanted papers thrown onto your driveway and having to pick up the soggy mess a few days later, that is why we don't do it. I know the person that is dispersing our paper is trying to help. I believe their actions are sincere but it is not helping at all and I would remind people not to do it. The People News is never thrown onto yards or driveways, it can only be picked up from one of our racks or in one of the many businesses in and around town that allow free papers. My apologies to those that did not complain personally for any inconvenience and if it happens in the future please let us know.

Gilley's lament

Ever since I became aware that Sheriff Dan Gilley was being less than honest with the public and the press and was trying to cover up irregularities in his department and control what the media disseminated, my respect for him diminished considerably, but there was still an admiration and hint of liking left deep down. Not any more. After he lost the Primary Election to Tim Gobble his public whining was sickening. Here is a man that carried the world in his pocket, controlling everything in Bradley County, almost owned the Cleveland Daily Banner and many of the radio and television stations and there he was complaining that a local bloggers website and a few outspoken news outlets unjustly swayed the election in his opponent's favor. If Gilley had listened to the citizens of Bradley County and not deluded himself with layers of yes-men it would have been plain even to a man as arrogant as himself that he was being perceived as secretive and untrustworthy by the general populus. I wager he still can't understand what exactly went wrong. Anyway, he is finished in Bradley County but what plans does he have in Nashville or Washington? There has been rumors that he has set his sights on a homeland security post, still working in law enforcement but appointed by a political friend. Well readers, it would be a disaster for Gilley to carry on his dangerous ways as a civil servant rendered unaccountable by the people he mistreats. Every once in a while a man in authority gets power crazy and becomes a danger to society, I believe Gilley is one such person. We must be vigilant to guarantee he never is allowed to hold a position of power again.

That's what I think. What do you think?

"What do you think?" Continued

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