Incumbents look good

Vets View by Pete Chaney

Museum praises, fires committee

Post Script

Incumbents look good

Hard to find better candidates than many already in office

  Abraham Lincoln, among many, many others, used the expression "don't change horses in mid-stream."
  Many qualified challengers are running for office in the Aug. 6 election.  And many well experienced officeholders would like to stay where they are.
  For the most part, Veterans for Good Government endorses the incumbents who have served the public well and should be allowed to continue.
  Sheriff John Cupp is a prime example.  A lay minister, he has served his office with morality and justice, not as one of  the "good ole boys."  He certainly should continue his good work.
  And Bill Cox has risen above some dirty politic jabs to campaign with dignity.  A military veteran, former police officer and experienced prosecutor, he has already proven his value to the county.  Keep him.
  Claude Ramsey has been an excellent County Executive and should continue.
  County Commissioners Curtis Adams, Ben Miller and Harold Coker bucked public pressure and did what their constituents wanted--hold the tax line.  Reelect them.  And William Cotton, a decorated veteran, has been a valued dissident voice on the commission.
  County judges have done their job well and should continue: Richard Holcomb, Doug Meyer, Mike Carter, Ron Derby, Sam Payne, Bob Moon and Rebecca Stern.
    Bill Nobles should be returned as trustee and Ardena Garth, as public defender.  Pam Hurst's fine work as Register needs affirmation at the ballot box.
  Ron Swafford will make a top Juvenile Court Clerk.
  A vote of confidence has been earned by State Sen. David Fowler.  Rep. Brenda Turner deserves affirmation, as does Rep. Jack Sharp. 
  It's obvious that Rep. Zach Wamp and Gov. Don Sundquist should have a vote of approval.

Vets View . . . . pete chaney

  Anyone who started in the newspaper business 50 years ago, and that seems like an eternity now, has seen a lot of changes, particularly in politics.  What was once commonplace is now illegal and lands a candidate in jail.
  It wasn't unusual to see a politician walking down a mill line handing out $5 bills.  Or a trunk full of whisky being carried to a precinct.
  As a young reporter-photographer, I went with a South Carolina sheriff to shoot pictures of him busting up a still.  He picked out a jar, shook it to see the beads and declared it was "good stuff."  Over my anxious objections, he stuck the jar in my camera bag, saying it was "good stuff."  It was "good stuff."
  Nowadays that would be unheard of.  Everybody would wind up in trouble.
  No one could imagine a sheriff such as John Cupp involved in such things.  A newspaperman would see a lot of sheriffs over the years.
  John Cupp stands out as one of a kind.none of the dogma.  He never insists that others believe as he does.  He leads by example. Common sense has been used with integrity.
  Toes have been stepped on, particularly among his peers because he wants everything right and above board.  When he teaches at a seminar in Nashville or other places, his meetings overflow.
  He must be credited with seeing the jail problems and facing them bravely in a clean up.  Independent investigators were called in at his request.
  John Cupp is a man above reproach, a great natural resource for Hamilton County.
  He certainly deserves another term to continue his good work.
  He has brought the morality of his religion to the office without any dogma.

MOH Museum thanks, praises,
fires its St. Elmo committee

  The board of directors of the National Medal of Honor Museum thanked, praised and fired its development committee at the July 11 meeting.
  The committee was created in 1995 under Chairman Bryan Jackson and Executive Director Leo Smith to acquire and renovate the St. Elmo School for relocation of the museum from Georgia Ave.
  The deed to the school had been acquired from the city, along with $150,000 improvements.  It was donated free with stipulations.
  Board Chairman Joe Young and Executive Director Dan Smith will head the project in the future.  Funds must be raised to renovate the building and to move from the George Ave and 4th St quarters which are due to be demolished in a street route change.
  The project began when an idea from Charlie Housch was presented to the board by Pete Chaney and Ralph Wilson.  Then Mayor Gene Roberts  assisted, as did General Services Administrator Rayburn Truaghber and Countess Jenkins, his assistant.
  The committee was assigned to get a deed to the property, raise funds for renovation and give the museum a turnkey job.  After the deed was negotiated, the current board chose to continue without the committee.
  The concept of the museum was begun by the Alvin C. York Airborne Association with the dream carried forward by Leo Smith.  It moved from a small office space to the Memorial Auditorium.
  Leo was able to attract volunteers to remodel the facilities on Georgia Avenue where priceless artifacts were collected, displayed and stored.  Priceless items range from a piece of wood from the battleship Maine to a brick from Hitler's home.
  The move to dissolve the development committee was made by Dan Smith and seconded by Ann Moyers.  It was unanimous.
  At the time of disillusionment, in addition to Pete Chaney and Ralph Wilson, the committee included Harold Tucker, Carl Athearn and Adm. Vance Fry.
  Charles Housch died in 1997.
  At Charlie's request, the world renown architect Garnet Chapin had signed on as architect.  Among other projects, he was involved in renovation of the Statue of Liberty.

Post Script

  As he was known at TVA, CARVING MARVIN RUNYAN is pretty good at "carving" out something from himself.  When retired from Post Office control, he gave himself a $17-million retirement bonus and $6-million for his wife, who sketched a silly little log he made USPS use.  No wonder the price of stamps has to go up.

*******

  Talk about bad taste!  At the conclusion of Memorial Day services at the National Cemetery, one candidate went up, grabbed the microphone and launched a campaign speech.  She lost a lot of votes.  You can bet that won't happen again.  The mike will be secured at the end of ceremonies.

*******

  Two good men are running for the 7th District Council of the VFW.  LARRY DALTON and JOHN FURGESS.  Tough choice there.

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  No officeholder has done more for his community than BEN MILLER.  On the day they dedicated the Ben Miller Park in St. Elmo, no news media, no photographers except for the CAVC showed up.  On the front page instead was a picture of REGGIE WHITE.

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  Don't be surprised at leadership changes in the union at Whelan Foundry.  Workers are steamed about the failed strike, which many say they didn't want.  Supposedly it was the maintenance workers who did, and there was a personal grudge by a union officer against a management official.

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  The name of the Police Services Center has been changed from The GENE ROBERTS Building to the RALPH COTHRAN Building.  Politically correct?  Gene is no longer in office.

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  It is surprising that a man of LEE DAVIS's integrity would allow the mudslinging commercials being used for his candidacy.  Whatever is done in an office must be credited to the man who runs the office.  Prosecution was done by District Attorney BILL COX's leadership.  Using victims' families for political gain is in bad taste.

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Proud of Frist
  Tennesseeans are proud of Sen. Bill Frist.  When the guards were shot at the Capitol, when the bullets were flying, he was there to administer aid--not as a senator, but as a doctor.

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School problems had a solution
  The same people who are screaming about school cuts now are the ones who voted against a on-half cent sales tax.  It was a solution pushed by County Executive Claude Ramsey and others.
  No one would have felt the fraction of a penny.  Now people have to face the consequences.
  And no one understands why city residents, who also live in the county weren't able to vote on it.
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Congress is right on Arlington burial privileges

  Sometimes Congress does something right.  Reserving Arlington National Cemetery for veterans who deserve is one of those.
  The weak excuse that a Supreme Court Justice or others in government serve their country deserve burial there is ridiculous.  Veterans have put their life on the line for their country.
  Government bureaucrats might bump their head leaning over to pick up a paperclip.  It ain't quite the same.

Join the VFW, American Legion.
Relive comradeship you once
knew on the battlefield!