Opinion

Have you ever stopped to think about the volunteer firefighters in our county? Actually, I haven’t either. Recently I had an opportunity to get involved with Station 16, Riverside Volunteer Fire Department, and found there was a whole lot more to being a volunteer than I ever thought.

These guys give of their time away from their families, sleep when called during the night and money for gas and other miscellaneous things that go along with volunteering.

I was absolutely appalled and very angry to read the story “Dog owner doggone mad” in the May 30 edition of The Lancaster News.

There are numerous events that seem to have occurred throughout this horrible ordeal that simply reek of overwhelming inadequacies in our local animal control and law enforcement ranks, not to mention a lack of some basic Southern hospitality.

The state of South Carolina recently proposed to produce for sale through the DMV vehicle license plates depicting a Christian symbol and the words “I believe.” It was immediately criticized and attacked by atheists for violation of the “separation of church and state” provision. These attackers fall into the same category as the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 because we do not believe as they do; as a matter of fact, the terrorists at least profess a belief in a supreme being.

Wow, $4.07 a gallon. Like most everyone, it hurts to fill up my tank because of outrageous gas prices. Not long ago, I heard someone say that President George W. Bush was to blame. As someone not particularly enamored with President Bush, I still find it implausible to see how the current gas prices are his fault.

I believe every law enforcement officer should visit Washington, D.C. during the week of May 15, which is National Police Week. This is the week that law enforcement officers honor their brothers and sisters who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This is the week when all of the fallen officers’ families honor their loved ones each year in Washington, DC.

Gamecocks’ place-kicker Ryan Succop’s 48-yard field goal looked on line to finally seal South Carolina’s hard-fought win over North Carolina that mid-October day as dusk fell on the Tar Heels’ Kenan Stadium last fall.It was good – good for nothing. The kick bounced harmlessly off the right upright to the turf.

Where were they going? I watched as the cars and trucks hurried north and south on U.S. 521. Drivers would stop and turn into the parking lot of the fast food restaurant. Some parked, walked in and ordered their food. Others made their way through the drive-through line.

The sounds of patrons’ conversations resembled the humming around a bee hive. I babysat a cup of coffee while talking to my brother sitting across the table from me. I was wearing workout clothes, had no makeup on and my hair was wet.

Today – the third Sunday in June – we honor our dads in the annual observance of Father’s Day.

The overriding question for the week around most households is what to get Daddy for his special day.

Guest what? He just wants to have his family around to celebrate the day.

Oh, he will gladly take that new shirt, a pair of shorts – summer is coming, some cologne and yes, that tie.

It wouldn’t be Father’s Day without the giving of a tie.

That tie is symbolic because dads offer that special bond in our lives.

Where is our county leadership when we need it? It is an outrage when our County Council rolls over and bails out Frank Keels and his See Lancaster’s Palmetto Thunder Air Show to the tune of a $75,000 advance. This is in addition to the $15,000 previously budgeted to See Lancaster.

It’s great to showcase Lancaster, but not at a $90,000 hit to the taxpayers. This could have bought four new squad cars the sheriff’s office desperately needs. It could have been used to provide some relief to our elderly struggling to pay their property taxes.