By Staff
Deweese thanks
Star for editorial,
positive attitude'
To the Editor:
Just a note of thanks for the great editorial, "Building a solid foundation for growth," that appeared on July 25 in The Meridian Star. It was a great, great article. I couldn't have written it any better myself.
We've got some great things that will happen in this community and this area if we'll all stick together. This is the first time I've seen the City, County and this community work together like they are now for a common goal.
Again, thanks for the positive attitude and the great article.
Glen Deweese
Chairman, East Mississippi Business Development
Corporation
Meridian
Good Samaritans
help motorists
To the Editor:
On a recent Monday afternoon a friend and I were returning from Philadelphia on Highway 19. We had just passed through Collinsville when my left rear tire blew out. I pulled over to the right side of the road, got out, opened the trunk and got out the jack.
About this time a young man pulled over behind me and reached for the jack. Before I could say a word, he began lifting the car. Then another young man came up and asked for the lug wrench, got down and took off the hubcap, unbolted the tire, removed same and changed the tire.
While he was tightening the bolts and securing the hubcap, the first man lowered the car and began putting up the blown tire, jack and later the lug wrench. Just like that.
Both started to leave. I said wait a minute … I want to thank you and give you this money so you can stop and get a cool drink on the way home. Both said, "No way … have a nice day."
One man, a biker, I believe was with the Guard at Key Field and the other a roofer. Both were from Collinsville two nice southern gentlemen.
Ain't that something!
S. Woodard
Meridian
Do something
about unsightly,
overgrown lots
To the Editor:
I have occasion to travel into town by way of 5th Street starting at U.S. Highway 11 South. Traveling east from this point I consider to be one of the main thoroughfares into downtown from the west. I notice that anyone who puts a sign advertising anything on a utility pole is almost instantly followed with a city employee who pastes another sign saying "this is an illegal sign."
You reach 5th Street and 40th Avenue and on your right going east is the old Neal and Sanderford Cleaners. This building and the one across the street, Christophers Grocery, are both falling down and without redemption. While the owners of Christophers have made some feeble attempt to chain and lock the front door, it is readily observed that anyone can bypass the chain and lock (homeless and/or druggies) but no signs of being condemned or illegal appear on these buildings.
City officials will tell you that there is no money for demolition, but if they would pass the wrecking expense onto the property owners I wonder if they would be destroyed rather than being an eyesore. Who owns these properties?
Traveling further east past the "S" curve you encounter the old car dealership location that is grown up with weeds and is unkept. The old Holt and Son building on 5th Street and 31st Avenue is next on the neglected list. The old sock factory is torn down on the next corner, but how long will it be before that lot is cleaned up?
You could go on and on, but turn left on 22nd Avenue and lo and behold two blocks later is the main intersection of this city 22nd Avenue and 8th Street, the location of the old Lamar Building.
It is grown up in weeds and grass. Less than 10 years ago, the city of Meridian took attorney Bob Deen to task through City Court and a full blown hearing before the city council about a vacant lot he owned on 24th Avenue and 14th Street because they said it was unsightly. At least lawyer Deen argued that there were beautiful wildflowers growing on his lot. I did not notice wildflowers on 22nd Avenue and 8th Street. I fail to remember what the outcome was, but I bet the city won.
With all the effort toward revitalization of downtown, maybe we should look at the streets leading in that direction.
Robert Brand
Meridian