April 20, 2004

By Staff
Going the extra mile
I'm writing to let the citizens of Meridian know the top-notch service the business community has to offer. On Sunday night, Feb. 22, I was driving back from Louisiana to Alabama when my transmission went out. The staff at Spaceway Truck stop was wonderful in letting me park my car there and helpful in recommending a good repair shop. They recommended I stop by and see Randy Eakes and his staff at America's Transmission Inc. on 8th Street.
Randy graciously accommodated my needs and provided the best service possible. All I had to do was give him the key and tell him where it was parked. He arranged to have the vehicle towed to his shop and held it there until we were ready to have it fixed.
On Friday, March 26, I brought a transmission to go in my car but I arrived at the shop after it was closed. The good folks across the street at AutoZone allowed me to leave the transmission in their building for the night and Randy picked it up the next day.
I'm grateful to all for their hard work and commitment to excellence. It's not every day you find folks willing to go the extra mile for a stranger. Meridian, you should be thankful to have these types of businesses in your community, I'm certainly thankful.
Sam King
Circulation Manager
The Clanton Advertiser
Clanton, Ala.
Firing teachers not a solution
Regarding the difficulties the Legislature is having in funding education, the only alternative most school districts seem to see is to eliminate teachers. School districts obviously have many other expenses than teachers' salaries. Why is it that we do not hear about any administrative positions being eliminated or perhaps cutting other expenses? What is more essential to education than teachers? One would think their positions would be the last expense to be cut after everything else, including administrative costs, had been cut to the bone.
I believe your readers would appreciate an article in which the school districts are given an opportunity to explain why teachers positions get cut while administrative costs continue to rise.
Marvin B. Speed
Meridian
Education in trouble
Education is in trouble here. Teachers are getting laid off and our children will suffer. Next school year, the classrooms will be overcrowded and the teachers are not to blame for the problem.
Please. everyone, we all need to complain, write letters, speak out. We need to do this fast. Cutting school funding is a major mistake. Our children are our future. They need and deserve a good education. They can't get that if the teachers have too many students to be effective.
There is no excuse to cut school funding. We pay school tax when we buy car tags, so what is the problem? I know education is expensive, but our children are worth it. The legislators need to rethink this decision, and very soon.
Angela Jones-Secrist
Meridian
Retirement views
We do a lot in our community to keep our military facilities and the civilian jobs. Isn't it time we do something for the military personnel?
Please publicize legislation to reduce Reserve and Guard retirement age to 55, which is the age civilian employees are allowed to obtain retirement pay. The time is right to pass this bill. If it's not passed before the November election, neither party will have any incentive to be an active supporter.
Mike Graves
Quitman