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Editorial
The Banks County News
April 5, 2000
Use caution on
road
People throughout Georgia mourned the
deaths of three children killed in a school bus wreck last week.
It is tragedies such as these that make parents appreciate their
children even more. It is also tragedies such as these that remind
us to take extra caution on the road.
Drivers should never do anything that would distract them from
the road. Cell phones, changing the radio, looking at newspapers
and even putting on makeup are all things that have led to wrecks.
Avoid these distractions and keep your eyes on the road. And
don't forget to buckle up.
Another concern for motorists is road rage. Patience is something
every driver should have. It's easy to make a mistake on the
road and we should all be more understanding.
As the mourning for these three children continues, let's all
make an effort to be careful and courteous drivers.
Letter
The
Banks County News
April 5, 2000
Calls for abolition of nuclear weapons
Dear Editor:
What if a computer malfunction were to trigger an accidental
nuclear war?
This is the chilling premise of "Fail-Safe," a new
TV-movie starring George Clooney and Richard Dreyfuss, coming
to CBS at 9 p.m. Sunday, April 9.
Although a work of fiction, the movie dramatizes a nuclear accident
scenario that is a very real possibility today.
As you read this, 3,600 Russian and 2,000 U.S. nuclear warheads
sit poised on 24-hour, permanent, hair-trigger alert, ready to
be launched within minutes. The danger is enormous. Just one
modern thermonuclear warhead is 20 times more powerful than the
atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima.
Computer error happens. Human error happens. The only sure way
to prevent accidental or deliberate nuclear war is to get rid
of the nuclear weapons themselves. The nuclear weapons states
need to get together to negotiate the abolition of these horrific
weapons of mass destruction.
That will only happen when the public demands it. As the old
adage says, "when the people lead, the leaders will follow."
Tune in to CBS, then write or call President Clinton to demand
that he take action to abolish nuclear weapons.
"Fail-Safe" is one war movie I would encourage parents
to watch with their children, not to scare them, but to help
them understand the real threat that nuclear weapons pose to
their future.
The president's address is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington,
D.C. 20500, phone 202-456-1111, email president@whitehouse.gov.
Sincerely,
Adele Kushner
Alto
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Column
By Sherry
Lewis
The Banks County News
April 5, 2000
 Saying
good-bye
I'm not fond of good-byes., As a matter
of fact, I despise them. But over the next couple of weeks, I'm
going to be telling many of you good-bye.
While I may continue to write a column or even cover a meeting
on occasion, I am leaving the paper as news editor next Friday.
This decision comes after much thought. I believe it is time
to move on and I have come across an excellent opportunity that
I believe I should take advantage of. I am going to work for
Brenau University as the marketing consultant. For the most part,
it will be an 8:30 to 5:00 job, Monday - Friday.
Many of you realize that will be quite a change for me. Over
the past seven years, I have spent a lot of my time in one meeting
or the other. My life will be different, but if I get a little
lonesome for some city or county government, I know there's a
meeting taking place just about anytime.
All kidding aside, it is those meetings that helped me to fill
up the newspaper for years. If it weren't for those local politicians
making news every month, I don't know what I would have done.
I've also become a part of many organizations along the way.
My association with the chamber of commerce has opened many doors
for me and helped me to make many friends. Also, I have thrived
on seeing the success of the Adult Learning Center while serving
as a board member. Late last year, I became a part of the Family
Connection collaborative and I am excited about the future of
that organization.
I am going to miss going in and out of the county schools. If
I ever needed a photo, I knew where I could find hundreds of
cute children. I've even talked teachers and administrators into
getting in on a photo if the need was there. I must say I was
always welcomed into their classrooms.
So while I won't be at every ribbon cutting, graduation and special
event that takes place, as I leave this position I will take
a lot of special memories with me.
Sherry Lewis is news editor of The Banks County News.
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