One-Minute Editorial
Greensboro novelist Orson
i Scott Card has a great quote.
He said. "If pigs could vote, the
man with the slop bucket would
? be elected swineherd every time,
j no matter how much slaughtering
i he did on the side."
One of our friend's daily chores
used to be sloppin' the hogs. He
j- filled up the trough and all the
pigs came running. They grunted
j their way through buckets of the
stuff, helping turn themselves into
country ham sandwiches.
Now that we’re into the election
season, every wannabe candidate
is trying to carry a larger swill
bucket, stuffed with cash, than the
other guy and is ready to promise
every voter a bigger swig of the swill.
But first, the bucket goes to the
! gas, coal and oil industries who
| will be allowed to gulp down $23
I billion in tax breaks. Out of this
i chunk of money, these industries
will spend only $1.5 billion to
protect the air we breathe and the
water we drink.
j It’s highly likely the federal gov
ernment. under the gentle guid
ance of President Bush, will find
a way to slip a sip to California,
helping them out of their $10 bil
lion budget hole.
In rraq, American contractors
haven’t taken a single sip from
the bucket. Tne government has
let them stick a hose in and
siphon it out, as they work with
their no-bid contracts while they
sock it to the American taxpayer.
The bucket gets lighter as the list
of favors handed out gets longer
and it’s still a long way from the
average voter.
But. when it gets around to people
like senior citizens, to give them
help paying their prescription
drug bills, they'll be lucky if
they're even allowed to lick the
bucket clean.
Of course, then the election will
be over and we’ll realize how
we’ve been hogwashed-again!
An Observation-President George
Bush’s trip to London was about
as welcome as a dirty pair of cow
boy boots on a white shag carpet.
City Council Approves City
Office Building’s Facelift
Linda Wilson
IREDELL CITIZEN
\ FACELIFT FOR THE ClTY OFFICE
Building was approved at the Nov.
17 City Council Meeting for the
City Office Building despite two
members of the city council voting
against spending an estimated
$890,000.
Ernie Sills of CBSA Architects.
Inc. presented the council with
variations of what could be done
to the building to blend it better
with the City Hall and Civic
Center Buildings. One proposal
included new landscaping, parking
and changing the drive-up window
location, which would cost
$430,000.
Council member Jim Lawton
made the motion to go ahead with
the facelift, landscaping and a one
storv addition on the south side at
the estimated cost of $890,000.
“We have a wart sitting in the mid
dle of our downtown.” Council
member Lawton said. "I think we
are getting out cheap if the cost is
less than $1 million.”
Rob Hites, city manager, told the
council that more space was not an
issue. The space in City Hall and
tfie city office building together
will be enough for the next 20 to
30 years.
Council members Paula Steele and
I O Inhnson iht>. pmpus.
al. Steele said she had a problem spend
ing almost a million dollars on a
cosmetic project. “There are no
structural problems with the build
ing and I'd rather see that money
go into a recreation project. I see
other projects that need to be done
before this. " Steele said. She felt
additional parking and landscaping
would be enough to do at this time.
Mayor John Marshall argued that
the facelift was much more than
cosmetic and voiced his approval
for the project.
The new renovations will replace
inefficient windows and will move
the drive-through to the back of
the building and include an addi
tion to house utility tellers.
In another matter, the council
tabled discussion of a fire escape
in the back of the Clock Tower
Building. The building is owned
bv Dr. Paul Swaney and in order to
bring it up to code a tire escape is
needed. But Dr. Swaney was said to
just own the building. Reportedly
the city owns the parking lot
directly behind the building w here
four parking spaces, which will be
affected, are located. The tax
value of the four parking spaces is
$15,424.20. Council discussed
providing a 20-foot easement to
Dr. Swaney and putting restric
tions on the type of fire escape
constructed. The council decided
to discuss the matter with the
■iu/nt»r h^fru-p. making a motion
Two Black Hawk helicopters
collided in Iraq killing 17 soldiers.
Officials believe one aircraft was
trying to avoid ground fire.
Bush’s fast exit—m Iraq could trigger
loss of control. The administra
tion’s demand for a constitution in
place has been abandoned. Transfer of
power is set for next summer.
A House/Seuate-eommittee has
recommended $1.2 billion for
Amtrak during the next fiscal year
starting in October.
Boeing in Seattle—laid off tens of
thousands of workers and moved
its headquarters to Chicago leav
ing long time workers with a feel
ing of betrayal.
President George Bush-will not
accept public financing and will
not be on the N.C. primary ballot
unless 10.000 Carolina voters sign
his petition.
Penny Singleton—who played
Blondie in a series of films, died in
Los Angies. She was 95.
Another delay-for Indians demand
ing the Department of Intenor
account for hundreds of million of
dollars owed thousands of Native
Amencans. Congress added lan
guage to the bill that again blocks
the court order.
A hard mattress—may not be the
best for your back, researchers sav.
We spent—more than we sold in
September. The trade gap w idened
to $41.3 billion.
Plans for peacekeepers in Iraq
from South Korea and Japan, will
be limited or delayed, officials '.aid
Alabama Supreme Court Chief
Justice—Roy Moore has been sus
pended after a Ten Commandment
dispute in which he defied federal
court order.
The U.S. military-says there are
no more than 5.(X)0 guemlla fight
ers in Iraq.
Exxon Mobile—has been ordered
to pay $11.9 billion for cheating
Alabama out of natural gas royalties.
In 12 months-ending Sept. 30 last
year, the number of personal bank
ruptcies was 1.625.813.
Sen. John Edwards-said the way
to get jobs is to put pressure on China
to quit manipulating its currency.
Sen. John Kerry-says he will not
accept public financing of his
campaign.
A chewable spearmint—birth
control pill has been approved by
The Food and Drug Administration.
Called Ovcon 35 it can be chewed
or swallowed whole.
Arnold’s California budget
deficit—is expected to be more
than $10 billion.
A Canadian regulatory group
wants their government to stop
selling low-cost prescription drugs
to U.S. customers.
Three are dead—and almost 500
have been hit with hepatitis A after
eating at a Chi-Chi Mexican
restaurant in Pittsburgh.
Hundreds of U5. war planners
have been ordered to CentCom's
forward headquarters in Iraq. The
military expects large-scale opera
tions to continue in Iraq for an
extended period.
In France—a gangway on the
Queen Mary 2 collapsed killing 13
and injuring 32.
A Hawaiian private school—
receives no federal funding. Because
of this, a federal judge ruled it may
continue its Hawaiian-only admis
sions and is not violating any stu
dent's civil rights.
Oil. gas and coal-industries are
happy. Two thirds of the $23 bil
lion Republican energy bill goes to
tnem. Only about $!. 5 billion will
be used for conservation and effi
ciency systems.
Toys “R” Lrs—doesn't mean jobs
for you. The toy retailer is closing
I oz stores ouu i_uiuiig j.ouu joos.
Presidential candidate Rep.
Dick Gephardt-says he has
opposed the NAFTA trade agree
ment for the past 20 years.
Mickey Moose-turned 75. Lucky
he’s a mouse. In dog years he
would be over 500!
Jim Graham-former N.C. com
missioner of agriculture and the
voice of farmers for four decades,
has died. Often call “The
Sodfather. ” his death was from
pneumonia complications at
Mayview Convalescent Hospital
in Raleigh. He was 82.
Thursday-Fnday f*mZ7-28
Friday-Saturday Dec.13-14
The Humane Society of IredeH County is
sponsonng a pet-Santa photo shoot 11 a.m.
to 5 p.m. at Petsmart locked in the Brawley
Commons Shopping Raza in MooresviHe.
Hatf of all proceeds goes to the Humane
Society and its Save-a-Pet adoption program.
No appointment necessary.
Monday and Tuesday, Dee. 8 and 9
The Iredell County Partnership for Young
Children hosts a pre-Christmas fundraising
event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will tie
held in the boardroom of the Partnership,
located at 132 E Broad St Timely Treasures.
Discovery Toys. Mary Kay cosmetics and local
crafters wHI have their merchandise for sale
and a percentage of the proceeds will be
donated to the Partnership to help carry out
services for children and families. For more
information, please contact Denise Ftogerson.
704-878-9980.
Tuesday, Dec. 9
The 70-piece North Iredell Band will perform a
Chnstmas concert at Raza Apartments at 1
p.m. The concert will held in the atnum area
and will be standing room only. The concert
can be enioyed from any of the Raza s four
levels.
Saturday, Jan. 24
The Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of
Commerce announces a Wedding Expo 2004!
The event will be held 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the
Charles Mack Citizens Center. 215 N. Man
Street in MooresviHe. A total of 45 booths will
be sold and there will be a bndal fashion
show, door pnzes and special happenings ail
day. DJ Fast Freddie who has been featured
on the Jenny Jones show will be the MC. For
more information please call MSI Chamber
Office 704-664-3898.
1
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