April 15, 2004
By Staff
Teamwork helps Oakland Heights
On Tuesday, Oakland Heights staff members arrived at school to find that we had no water. With about 600 students and 100 staff members this posed quite a problem. Thanks to the efforts of many dedicated employees, parents and volunteers, we were able to notify parents that school would be closed for the day.
We would like to thank the American Red Cross, Coca-Cola Bottling and Julie Manley for providing drinking water and ice for our students. Archie Scarbrough and school district maintenance employees worked on our campus to provide temporary plumbing facilities. Oakland Heights staff members called parents and made home visits to notify them of the situation.
Local television and radio stations made public service announcements as well. City of Meridian employees worked diligently to restore water to the Oakland Heights community in a timely manner.
Thanks to the kindness of so many, our students were able to see first hand the value of teamwork.
Kim Benton
Principal, Oakland Heights Elementary School
Meridian
Birthday celebrated
Vice Admiral David C. Richardson, a native of Meridian, celebrated his 90th birthday on April 10, 2004, at the home of his oldest son, David W., in Coronado, Calif. He was surrounded by his family: wife Jeanne and their progeny, including a great grandson.
In Meridian, David was active in the Boy Scouts and became an Eagle Scout. He left Meridian High School after his sophomore year to attend Marion Military Institute in preparation for entering the Naval Academy, from which he graduated in 1936.
He became a naval aviator, a fighter pilot. At Guadacanal he shot down a number of Japanese planes and was himself wounded. He served with great distinction, holding a number of important commands in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
Jack Chilton, another Meridianite and old friend, was also present at David's birthday party. Jack has lived in Coronado for 43 years. Annually, the two of them and their wives meet with a third Meridianite, Tom Moore and wife Claire of Palm Springs and the Napa Valley. Tom is a former president of American Broadcasting Company Television. Dave, Tom and Jack were all naval aviators during World War II.
H.R. Chilton
Coronado, Calif.
Concerns about U.N.
I remember well when the United Nations came into being back in 1946. I thought at the time, isn't that great All these countries working together. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The following are concerns of mine that I'd like for you to consider.
Our national parks, at least some of them, were put under the control of the U.N. back during the Clinton administration.
I learned that Kofi Annan wants to levy a tax on us and the funds used by the U.N.
Our troops should not be serving under the U.N. I remember very well the stories concerning Michael Nelo, a military medic who was court-martialed and dishonorably discharged from service because he refused to wear the blue beret and shoulder patches of the U.N. We know that his record was excellent that he has saved one soldier during combat. I helped with his legal expenses a few times but haven't heard anything recently. That decision should be reversed.
For years our government has given foreign aid funds to countries that consistently vote against us in the U.N. Are we stupid or do we just like to spend our money like the proverbial "drunken sailor?"
The above related decisions have greatly undermined our American sovereignty and to rectify that situation, we need to call and write our lawmakers in the House and Senate and tell them to immediately pass the Sovereignty Restoration Act No. R1146. It's been in committee since March 6, 2003.
I signed a petition that is going to U.S. Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., the ranking member of House International Relations Committee. He needs your support.
The right to petition our government is included in the First Amendment to our Constitution, along with rights of freedom of speech, religion, of the press and to peaceably assemble. We have these rights, so let's use them before we lose them completely.
Mildred Smith
Quitman
Mental health services need funding
As an advocate for mental health and mental retardation services in the state of Mississippi, I would like to bring attention to several important facts. The Department of Mental Health's budget has been cut in each of the last three years and, according to DMH officials, any further cuts will result in closures of existing facilities. These closures will result in many clients suffering from mental health and mental retardation problems being released into their communities with no available follow-up treatments.
Also, the state has seven crisis intervention centers appropriated and many constructed; however, the Department of Mental Health needs an additional $15 million to fully operate these crisis centers and remove many Mississippians who suffer from mental health illnesses from our county jails.
Additional funding is needed to fully fund home and community based waiver services. The state has been allocated 2,400 slots for clients and due to available funding the Department of Mental Health is only able to fill 1,500 of these slots. HCBS is a Medicaid program and $4 million is needed to fill the remaining 900 slots. This money will generate about $12 million for operating costs throughout the Department of Mental Health. As a result of the Supreme Court's Olmstead decision, the availability of HCBS has prohibited any potential legal action against the state from advocacy groups due to clients not being served at different mental health facilities.
Joseph Johnson
President
Association of Behavioral Healthcare Management
via e-mail
