Appreciate Sheriff Deese's professional leadership
I would like to give a shout out to Sheriff Bobby Deese for a job well done. Clay County is a safer place with Deese and the officers under his command patrolling our streets. I am not sure what the career move is for our sheriff and I wish him all the best in his endeavors, but the loss is Clay County taxpayer's.
I am not an acquaintance of Deese but I appreciate his work in law enforcement. A no nonsense, motivated leader that puts on the tactical gear with his troops and patrols our county in a professional manner. Yes, the arrest report each week is lengthy which indicates not only crime but great police work in apprehending these criminals. This sheriff will be missed and the reality will set in after the fact. I for one will do a write-in vote on election day for Deese. If you are looking for a social, PR butterfly to run your policing in Clay County, Deese is not your man. He is a tough, hard-nosed by-the-book leader and I wish him well.
Semper Fi Bobby Deese,
Bob Harrington
Removing monuments doesn't erase our history
Below is a poem, “A Monument Removed,” written by John Fisher, Confederate Veteran Magazine, January/February 2022 issue.”He is Commander of the Horry Rough and Readys Camp 1026, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
“I’ve never seen a life improved when a monument was removed, an alcoholic embrace sobriety when a monument was removed. I’ve never seen the homeless fed, a street bound vet find a place to lay his head, from darkness of addiction the drug addict led, when a monument was removed.
I’ve never seen a marriage saved when a monument was removed, nor has abuse suddenly vanished away, when a monument was removed. Will shattered families be made whole again? Will a father return to his children attend? A bruised wife gain Godly husband and friend because a monument was removed?
Will gun-fire ending the lives of youth cease when a monument is removed? Will blood that runs red in the city streets end when a monument is removed? Will our young ones learn, their life is their own; they are not held back by granite and stone, only chained down by hate of those who’d be heard alone, and demand, “that monument must come down.”
Is our country truly a greater place when a monument is removed? Do we gain greater dignity, a prosperous and much safer place when a monument is removed? Has world hunger stopped? Will peace reign supreme? Or have we been lowered to another extreme, to the horror of devils who have no esteem for men who were leaders and pure?
No. No good is done to our country, our states, when a monument is removed. We rob young and old of lessons untold when a monument is removed. Their lives not inspired, honorable to be, from their learning eyes hidden so they cannot see, the power of Jackson, the wisdom of Lee, for their monuments have been removed.
Hate which drives the perverted to tear monuments down is a monument all of its own, chiseled by wickedness, violence and crime, to clear minded truly is shown. It has no honor, nor worthy of degree to be recognized as greatness by you and me, not to the high standing of Jackson and Lee, that is a monument “that must come down.”
Our chapter came across this poem we realized how we feel. It is such ridiculousness to pull down monuments that are teaching history, bad or good. History teaches us not to make the same mistakes.
Ann Atchison, chapter treasurer on behalf of Smith’s Legion Chapter 2699 United Daughters of the Confederacy
The state of our climate in 2021
As we begin a new year, it is a great time to look back at our climate for 2021. In this article, I will discuss the current state of our climate, and I hope to have two more letters detailing what we know about climate change and what can be done about it.
2021 was the hottest La Nina — pattern of periodic cooling in the Pacific — year ever recorded, and the last seven years have been the hottest seven years of recorded history. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which is composed of the best climate scientists from around the world, came out with their latest report showing that climate change is unequivocally caused by humans and that it is progressing faster than predicted. The earth has now warmed about 2-2.16 degrees over the past 150 years and the rate is increasing. There has been a marked increase in the rate of melting of the earth’s ice caps and in the rate of sea level rise, with a possible 3 feet rise possible by 2100 resulting in catastrophic damage around the world.
The news this last year has been filled with reports of tremendous damage from weather events. There were a total of 20 severe weather events in the United States totaling $145 billion in damages, ranging from a historic heat wave in the northwest, the second largest wildfire in California’s history — Dixie Fire, heavy flooding in the mid-west and north east, a category 4 hurricane striking the New Orleans area and a record breaking cold streak in Texas resulting in $50 billion in damage and millions without power. Many scientists believe that the warming of the Arctic has disrupted the winds that encircle the pole, unleashing giant blobs of frigid air into lower latitudes.
There is good news, however. According to the most recent poll by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communications, the number of people “alarmed” about climate change increased by 9 points last year to 33 percent, while those listed as “doubtful” or “dismissive” together have dropped to just 19 percent. The conclusion was that American are much more concerned about global warming, much more engaged and more supportive of climate solutions.
In summary, climate change is worsening faster than previously predicted, but now there is much more consensus that it is time to act. Even more good news to follow-we can stop this impending catastrophe without damaging our economy.
Vernon Dixon, MD