Letters to the editor – Sunday (5-24-09)

Published 12:00 am Friday, May 22, 2009

State takeover of Alcoa dams raises many questions
Does anyone know why the state of North Carolina wants to take over Alcoa’s Yadkin Project and manage an electric utility in competition with our private utility companies? Is it for the profits to off set the state’s budget?
Has anyone seen a realistic pro forma that shows any significant profits after paying the debt service? What I have seen indicates a probable loss.
Has anyone seen a business plan to show how the project will be managed and how the state will set up a sales organization and an operation center to control the dams?
Will the proposed Yadkin Trust benefit the public more than the agreement entered into by Alcoa and the 23 other interested parties, including the state?
According to the critics, the state, which is responsible for the oversight of the contamination and pollution in the Yadkin Project, has not done its job. Therefore, the state should take over the project and expense of the cleanup. (Read that again.)
Why are Stanly County and or some of their residents spending large amounts of money to push the state into forming the Yadkin Trust? What is in this for Stanly County? Is there an unmentioned land deal?
Why is everyone avoiding the details?
The legislators I have talked to are too overloaded to determine the facts and rely on the governor and their friends from Stanly County for guidance. Its time our legislators and the public are given the facts.
ó Henry Booke
High Rock Lake property owner
Chief was a fine officer
As it is with all matters of personnel, the average citizen will probably never know the story behind the firing of China Grove Police Chief Hodge Coffield, but during the course of a half dozen conversations with him last year, I found him to be extremely polite, courteous, easily accessable, and a devoted law enforcement officer. He seemed genuinely pleased to be assisting me with some research into police procedure for a book I was writing. He was most helpful.
Whatever the reason, the chief’s departure now leaves the citizens of China Grove with one less officer on duty. I can only hope this situation will be remedied as quickly as possible.
Chief Coffield was, to me, a fine officer, and highly qualified for his position, and wherever he goes, I wish him good luck and Godspeed. I will miss him.
ó Jan McCanless
China Grove