Suwannee Countians, it’s time to speak your mind! How? By calling the Suwannee Democrat Rant and Rave hotline. The hotline never closes and is your way to let it out. You can let everyone know how you feel — as long as you express yourself in a respectful way.

Note: In written entries to Rant and Rave, errors in spelling, grammar or punctuation are those of the authors.

~~

First I want to rant about the state helping Pilgrim’s Pride when they’ve sold out a part of their — let another company overseas and buy in. We don’t need that. That’s what we’re supposed to be stopping. Now I want to ask the tax collector, I want to know why, and driver’s license and tags and all, I want to know why they’ve went and jumped nearly $20. Plus driver’s license is out of sight. And I want to know why? And I want to know what they’re doing with all the money.

~~

Hello, Mr. Caruthers, Suwannee County, you are so right. I still think it’s vigorous harsh letters to the Eccostone company that wanted to move here, chased them away. They get tired of listening to people make it hard for a company to locate somewhere. Companies ain’t going to locate in this county and they never will. You’ve got land sitting out there empty for years and years. They ain’t going to get nobody here. You’ve got kids graduating from high school. Where are they going to go to get a job? The best thing for them to do is get the heck out of this county and go somewhere else and find a job cause you ain’t going to find one in this county. What are you going to do work at the chicken plant, clean chickens the rest of their lives? Work at Lowe’s the rest of your life or Wal-Mart the rest of your life? There’s nothing here. Wake up Suwannee County and Baker you better wake up too, you idiot.

~~

I’d like to rave about Barry Baker the clerk of the court who had the insight to ask a few questions regarding Eccostone moving to this county. We’re in enough  trouble with some other deals that didn’t go right. It’s good to know that Barry has enough sense to ask a couple questions. So good job Barry Baker, keep up the good work.

~~

Suwannee County, City Hall, well y’all done blowed it again. Just keep up what you’re doing and you won’t see any business come into this county whatsoever. You’re lucky that you’ve got Lowe’s and Wal-Mart. If it wasn’t for them this would be a ghost town, but it sure is going to turn into a ghost town if you people at City Hall keep up this crap chasing business away. Oh well, you’ll find out the hard way.

~~

I just read online about the Junebug Festival after it was over. It would be great to be aware of events before they happen. There is usually such a poor turnout to local events for this very reason. I’d love to support the community in this way. Yes they may be listed in the calendar, but most people like me check the homepage for local news. For instance this week there should be a summary of all the Fourth of July events and fireworks available. An article next week really won’t help. Thank you.

 

We promoted the Junebug Festival extensively in our print edition, not so well on the Web. As for Independence Day celebrations in our coverage area, they are set for Branford and Jasper. See stories, this site. – Editor

~~

Golly Gee! The catalyst scam fell apart, imagine that! I’ve rantin’ & raved about that for mos. now. Nobody in the right mind wants to do business with the current co. administration, the track record says it all. For some strange reason we keep the same folks in office for decades. First problem was why is the county involved in ” free enterprise” from the get go? While Mr. Caruthers is a huge block in the road & has been for years, the economic developement council has to be called on the carpet for this also. Well, they ain’t nothing but flunkies empowered by the 5 kings anyhow. No body is coming to a county that tells you that you can’t have a drink with your dinner. I smell some more lawsuits comin’ down the pike, but we have our really sharp county attorney on the job, no doubt. Oh yeah, what’s the story on the $200,000 bond they bought from a swindler, or don’t we talk about that no more? Can anyone explain why we pay these people year after year? They get payed more than most folks in this county ‘cept maybe the preachers. November is a comin’ boys!

 

The next county commission is scheduled for Tuesday. Although it’s not on the agenda, we hope to learn more about the fraudulent $200,000 bond then. – Editor

~~

This is in response to the letter written about the border patrol hopefully picking up the illegals. While I agree with the writer that we as taxpaying citizens are being taken advantage of, as long as there are people that are willing to hire them, they’ll keep moving in. If anyone needs to be prosecuted it’s the people who are giving them jobs, and housing, and allowing them to work here. I see them all the time in the pine trees raking straw, in the fields picking watermelons and other vegetables. I asked one of the employers one time why they hired them and was told “Local people won’t work the hours and for the pay the Mexicans will work for.” So where do we lay the blame?

~~

Callers to 386-208-8314 may express their thoughts, good or bad, 24/7 about community issues and politics, but not about private individuals or businesses. If you prefer, you may email your comments to nf.editorial@gaflnews.com. You don’t have to give your name, and please, keep submissions to less than 45 seconds (that’s about 150 words). We want everybody to have a chance to be heard. Submissions that are overly long will be discarded. If 45 seconds isn’t enough time, write a Letter to the Editor. (Guidelines for letters appear on Page 6A of our print edition.)