Rockdale Citizen

"Dear tscooper -- This snitch wants the seventh grade students of Conyers Middle School to be educated during the time. Their teachers should be focused on educating them so they can become productive members of society in due time. I do not believe their teachers should be making money off of them selling anything, especially candy and regardless of the excuse for doing so in the first place. Many students at the school are on free/reduced lunch and need to spend what money their parents have to give to them on other things. You should also ponder the following questions: Are students receiving receipts with their candy purchases to account for the money collected from them? Is all the money being turned in at the end of the day? Why does the principal apparently see no problem with this 'fundraiser?' Does the candy eaten during the school day have an effect on the ability to focus and therefore learn? The comment in last week's poll must have really hit home for you to take the time to post a response. Hmmm..."

"US Census data for the state of Georgia: 30.5% African America, 8.8% Hispanic or Latino, 3.2% Asian. Georgia Department of Education publicly funded academic classes for the high school level: Asian Studies, Latin American Studies, Middle Eastern Studies and Sub-Saharan African Studies. Is something wrong with this, or is it just me?

"The average teacher at a school in Rockdale County must check attendance 3 times a day for 180 days. That means that a teacher checks attendance about 540 times in a year. Out of the 540 times, if a teacher does not submit attendance 4 times within the school year, they will receive an "unsatisfactory" on their teacher duties and responsibilities evaluation. Is there any place of employment where a work rate of 99.4% is considered unsatisfactory? At one Rockdale County Public school, 99.4% is not good enough. Now that is what I call rigor without relevance."

"I would like to bring some common sense to bear on several comments I have seen lately. It seems that when this paper does a story of a church helping poor people in other countries, there is always someone who comments that they should be helping poor folks in our own area. If you make comments like that, you are identifying yourself as a person who does nothing and only brings fault. If you want to help the local folks, no one is stopping you. It is not encouraging or helpful for you to try to criticize or change what others are doing. If you feel a need here, jump on it. Try less talking and more doing. Once you have your idea to help, ask churches to help. I am sure those same churches will answer the call the same way they helped whoever is organizing the Africa stuff. It will never help anyone when you comment that a church should have done something different and it will never make you look like a nice person. You will only look like a complainer. The people who say that are almost always the ones who are doing nothing but yapping their mouth. It will never help."

"Where does the money go, that come from the sale of homes funded by NSP? And why is the county and city in the business of repairing and selling houses? When most of our roads are in poor condition, why can't funds be found for roads? That would do more to serve the citizens of Rockdale."

"For those of you commenting on neglected barking dogs ... Dogs should never be left outside and ignored ... if you chain a dog outside you should not own a dog. It's so upsetting when someone thinks that a certain breed is 'cute or cool' and run out and get one ... no research on breed characteristics, food, toy, medical expenses ... it is just cruel! If the dog is ignored ... steal it and give it to a rescue group ... They will find it a good and loving home. These people do not deserve the blessing of owning a lifetime friend ... If you get a pet it is a lifelong obligation! This happens more than you realize ... so if you have a chained dog or neglected dog ... it may not be there tomorrow! Hopefully it has been given to someone who actually loves it."

"I would like to make a suggestion to the management staff at L.A. Fitness. To reduce the number of cars being broken into at your facility, why don't you take some of your staff that never leaves their computer screen, give them a phone, and have them work 2-hour shifts patrolling the parking lot! Your customers deserve a safe environment in which to do business. Thank you."

"Just wanted to let everyone know, the fix is in regarding MARTA. Already, the planning commission has announced plans to turn the area from the DeKalb line to West Avenue into an industrial area. Read: truck stops, warehouse and distribution district. That means residents in the area around Sigman Road can look forward to an even greater drop in their property values thanks to noise and traffic. But wait: the great plan is "centered" around what is referred to as multi-modal transit hub. That is a MARTA station. I would bet that the station will be at Sigman Road, on the south side of I-20. MARTA needs new revenue sources and has been anxious to stick their hands into Rockdale. They ARE going to do it. It's been planned for a long time. Next time you drive down Iris Drive toward Sigman, take a good look at the red light at McDaniel Mill Road. People have commented on what they saw as a waste of money putting pedestrian crossings over the the freeway side. Look at it more closely, people. That's a future MARTA stop. That's why there's a concrete "patio" on the freeway side; it's for the bus stop. Our county leaders have lied to us and have been dealing under the table. You people with properties near the future Sigman Road MARTA station can look forward to values dropping and crime going up, because they will be filling that area with low income, high density apartments. We have been lied to regarding MARTA. We were lied to regarding the truck stop and refueling station, because that's part of the whole plan. They've got the whole thing planned for a go."

"Being a faithful viewer of Rockdale's BOC meetings on Cable 23, I have become increasingly disgusted with the Board allowing folks to spew their politically biased comments. One woman in particular appears often and spouts her hatred for Republicans and refers to them as radicals and how we should all support Obama. Board members should add such speech to its list of items not to be uttered at these meetings. If this practice is allowed to continue, I would encourage Republicans to appear at the meetings and voice their concerns about Democrats and their Marxists leanings, i.e. 'spread the wealth', etc. It is becoming abundantly clear that civil speech and conduct is for Republican use only."

"To the commenter from last week about MMS Pizzeria ... my daughter is a student at Memorial Middle School and I have to monitor her lunches otherwise she would eat the pizza everyday. Is it not just a frozen pizza that someone puts in the oven for 20 minutes?"

"Our students are more than data. They are human beings!"

"Do you think the 'epic' storm hitting Alaska is God's warning to Palin to shut up?"

"Does anyone know of any organizations in Conyers that will be donating turkeys to families in need?"

"The members of our election board should have both been fired when they decided the best way to choose a chairman is through a poker chip drawing from a paper bag. It seems the position of chairman of board of elections would dignify a more thorough process. I hope the judge makes good on his threats. Even if it affects an election, obviously keeping them on the board could affect more than just one election. It's time to cut our losses now."

"The merchants in Olde Town can't figure out why nobody will go over there and shop. Probably because the parking lot police are out there harassing people if they park in a parking spot. There is supposed to be two-hour parking, but its not heavily noted or where parking is, or if it is no one can see it. Come on people, slack off if you want customers, don't run them off because they were parked in a parking spot for 30 minutes."