Editorial

David Johnson, Owner/Publisher, Sunday Leader

I usually don't write about national politics in this space.

We get plenty of that on the 24-hour news networks. Besides, there's usually enough going on around town to fill three or four pages of my unsolicited opinion.

So, I'll spare you that today.

And I'll warn you up front that what you are about to read is more of a rant than any attempt at garnering the Pulitzer.

Education first and always

An open letter to Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant:

I applaud your exceptional leadership and commitment to education in the state of Mississippi. It is without question that education is the key to our children’s success and the success of communities throughout Mississippi. With regard to the federal stimulus funds allocated specifically for education, I urge us to always keep our eyes on the prize, the children, as we access and begin the process of expending the same.

Like you, I too am keenly aware of the fact that many of our past decisions to include segregation, inadequate funding, second class supplies, equipment, and facilities have played a major role in what has resulted in an inadequate educational system. While I do not wish to dwell on the past, I am fearful and frustrated. I am fearful that too many of our predominantly black schools will continue to lack adequate resources and will be classified as poorly performing schools. I am frustrated because year after year we continue to support public policies that result in the same outcome.

Yes, it's election season.

It was never so evident as it was last week at the City of Cleveland's monthly meeting.

Usually, city government rules with the determination and flexibility of a third world dictatorship when it comes to code enforcement and the little annoying ordinances about how big your sign can be, where you can park your car and how tall your grass can get.

Not last week.

For no logical reason, the city board voted to dismiss an $82.52 tax lien placed on a property owner for public works having to cut her grass.

You see, if you can't or won't cut your grass, the city will do it for you. It then charges you for having to do what you should have done in the first place.

When I was 11 years old, I was forced to spend six months in bed due to a condition known as St. Vitas’ Dance, which was a relative of Rheumatic Fever.

I was miserable.

We didn’t have a TV, so I listened to the radio — constantly. The station I listened to featured two newscasts a day hosted by a guy I came to know very well. He became almost like a member of the family from that time until just last weekend, when he died at the age of 90.

His name was Paul Harvey, although for awhile I knew him as Paul Harvey News because that was the way he was introduced on the radio. The announcer would say: “And now, here’s Paul Harvey News.”

His voice was so authoritative and his descriptions of happenings were so vivid the listener thought he was at the center of whatever Paul was talking about.

By Jody Correro
The Leader

Last Monday night was a “great” one for me, and I suspect it was for those who attended the annual Sammy O. Cranford Memorial Lecture in History in Delta State University’s E.R. Jobe Hall.

William N. LaForge, a 1972 Delta State graduate who earned his B.A. degree in history and attended Cleveland public schools, delivered the lecture sponsored by the History Department in memory of Dr. Cranford, a member of the division’s faculty for 25 years, and University Archivist for 19 years, before his untimely death in 1994.

LaForge’s father served as chair of the Division of Social Sciences before becoming Delta State’s first Dean of Arts and Science. LaForge earned law degrees from the University of Mississippi and Georgetown University, and studied international and European law at Cambridge University as part of requirement of his Georgetown LL.M. degree. LaForge serves as Managing City Shareholder for the Washington office of Winstead P.C., and chair of that firm’s Government Relations and Public Policy Practice Group. He is an adjunct professor at George Washington University.

Can the City of Cleveland step forward and assist Bolivar County Community Action's homeless shelter?

We think it should.

The shelter will stay open for another month thanks to the contributions of a Cleveland businessman.

After that? Who knows.

A shortage of government funds has threatened to shutter the shelter. New funding should be available in the spring.

But for the next few months there are no guarantees.

OK. There's less than a week remaining to qualify for the upcoming city election in Cleveland.

If you've been thinking about throwing your name into the proverbial hat, well, time has almost passed you by for another four years.

But it's not too late. Go see city clerk Wendy McClain by 5 p.m. Friday and she'll help get you qualified.

It's looking like it's going to be an election season to remember, isn't it?

Are we all quite stimulated yet?

Has Santa Claus moved to Washington D.C.?

No, but it sure seems that way.

D.C. is being flooded with more "wish lists" than the North Pole.

Never fear, though. President Barrack Obama put the nation's mayors on notice last week.

He told them his administration would be watching how the hundreds of billions of dollars in the economic stimulus package is used.

The president said he would call out any mayor whose city abused or misused any stimulus allocations.

Oh, boy.

From the look of the projects already proposed by some of the nation's mayors, Obama is going to be a very busy man.

I attended a special meeting of the Cleveland School Board on Friday.

You know, I really like those guys.

I think they all have the best interest of our kids at heart, and it really shows.

I know a few boards that could surely take a lesson or two from this one on how to work together.

While the school board took care of some minor business on Friday, the primary purpose for the special meeting was a roundtable discussion of the proposed 2009-2010 curriculum guide. There doesn't appear to be any major changes ahead for the curriculum, just a modification here and there. The curriculum should be approved at February's regular monthly meeting.

As far as meetings go around here, well, this one was kind of dull. No one stormed out of the room. No one yelled. Everyone simply worked together and respectfully. I have to admit I glanced down at my watch a couple of times waiting for this meeting to wind down.

Then something really caught my attention.

This newspaper has printed many lines on the great and ongoing success story that is Ruleville. We believe it is the rare Delta community whose best days are in front of it.

There is solid, positive leadership within the town's government and within the community at-large.

And then, apparently, there is Edna.

We do not know Ruleville city clerk Edna Beverly.

After last week, we're left wondering if even the people she works for really know her.

Beverly, a hired city employee, refused to let this newspaper...and the citizens of Ruleville...know who had filed qualifying papers to run for city office. She admittedly based her disgustingly selfish decision on the fact that this newspaper dared to print comments on her job performance made by Ruleville citizens during the town's very public and very open monthly meeting three weeks ago.