Taking pride in our city an ongoing effort
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Jason Patterson Editor & PublisherSometimes when I’m spending most of my Saturday cutting grass and working in the yard, I wish I could just do it once and be done for the summer.
I suppose I could do that, but I’m sure I’d have some unhappy neighbors and one very unhappy wife when the place started looking like a jungle.
Many of the problems facing Yazoo today are a result of someone “taking the summer off” when there’s ongoing work to be done.
One of the most often discussed topics today is the poor condition of our local parks with restrooms in disrepair and routine field maintenance neglected. These are issues that wouldn’t exist if our leaders weren’t asleep at the wheel.
During the last Mayor and Board of Aldermen meeting Ward 1 Alderman Charles “Mickey” O’Reilly called for cleaning up Brame Park. I am in total agreement with him that it needs it, but what Mr. O’Reilly doesn’t seem to realize (or at least want to admit) is that the park has declined over the past decade, which is the same amount of time he has represented the ward in which it is located.
I used to enjoy taking my lunch to Brame Park to eat rather than sitting inside, but the park has gone downhill considerably since those days.
Another example is Main Street, where the Mississippi Development Authority made significant investments in the form of a grant to this city to improve downtown Yazoo.
Today the brick sidewalks are uneven and potentially dangerous in some places, some of the new light poles haven’t been replaced after being damaged and at least one of the large planters has visible damage. The music from the sound system was recently cut off after the bill went unpaid.
Just like I would be hearing from my wife if I shut down the lawn mower for the summer to focus on leisure activities full time, it’s time for local leadership to start hearing from the taxpayers. We have to get their attention.
In the meantime the good news is that we don’t really have to wait around for politicians to make good things happen in our community.
Soon after residents started voicing concerns about the state of our parks, volunteers began offering their services. Coach Johnny Staples says he has had many people contact him to offer support in his volunteer efforts.
There’s also plenty of positive activity downtown, and none of it has anything to do with the government. Jet and Vernette Griffin have brought tremendous new activity with the Downtown Marketplace and across the street Jeff Curtis has done the same thing with TCTI Fitness. Paul and JoAnn Adams continue to make major investments in their downtown buildings. Frank Webb at Webb’s Pharmacy is upgrading his system and expanding because he is confident in the future of his downtown business.
The momentum is there, and it’s just a matter of time before more good things happen downtown.
But it would be a lot easier to market Yazoo to new business if we took the time to pay attention to the basic maintenance details. It would also ensure that the local taxpayers are getting what they’re paying for.
Taking pride in our city is a year-round job.
Dear Editor,
The decision by the present school board not to renew the teaching and coaching contract of Mr. Archie Carlyle was a planned and calculated act of politics. This kind of thing has been happening for years.
They didn’t follow policies or procedures in this matter. The state’s report on the district asked the board to stop interfering in this kind of situation, but it seems they didn’t get the memo.
My mother always put her 11 children first in making decisions for their futures. It is clear this board did not do that.
Mr. Carlyle’s only crime was putting his students first. I feel like Jesus, when he told the people at the well, “He who is without sin cast the first stone.”
I and the 800 people who have signed the petition calling for Carlyle’s return can find no fault in his dedication to our community. We are being laughed at across the state, and on Facebook and Twitter.
Our community is losing faith in our ability to work in a productive and successful district. The Yazoo Herald’s sports editor called it a “travesty.” I ask the question, where are all those Christian folks, his co-workers, his pastor and his fellow church members?
Where are the athletes, past and present, and most of all where are the parents? He has mothered and fathered when you were unable to make it to a game or on the road, giving your children heart-to-heart talks of motivation and encouragement both in the halls of our schools and on the streets of this community. Now he deserves your support in this critical matter.
This affects us all, black and white, because the future of our community is at stake. I am asking everyone to show as much concern about this matter as they do during election time.
Mr. Clifton Jones, I sat on the school board when you and your wife in a 3 to 2 vote were denied what you rightfully deserved. When you first ran for alderman you were the only politician I ever spent an entire day with, walking the streets because I believed in you. When I ran for mayor as an independent, I endorsed McArthur Straughter in the primary. Many people thought I was crazy, but I was exercising my rights.
Mr. Aubry Brent Jr., I followed you from Vicksburg to Belzoni and saw people commit perjury to defeat you. When citizens support a candidate, they want something in return. As a citizen with the 800 petitioners, we are calling in our wager. Just get the record of the board of that decision, which is public record. Check the timeline of the action, and you will be amazed. Next month you will appoint or reappoint a board member, but before you do we deserve answers.
If you find me wrong I will come back and sit before you and the school board and give a public apology. Everyone deserves their day in court, and Mr. Carlyle certainly does.
What you do or don’t do will determine the caliber of teachers and coaches willing to come into our community and work with our children.
Johnny Staples
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