By Staff
Empty downtown buildings discouraging
To the Editor:
I came home to Meridian and have been visiting for the last two weeks. I am really sad at all the empty buildings that are in the downtown and surrounding areas. It depresses me that Meridian allows so many new buildings to be built when there are so many drab, empty buildings sitting unused.
It certainly doesn't look like downtown needs one more parking garage! I think Meridian should utilize the other parking garages they already have before building another one.
Jill Watts
Washougal, WA
Thoughts about Sept. 11
To the Editor:
The following are personal thoughts I've had since the disaster of Sept. 11. I'm sure that my thinking is different from many, but I have been a military wife since Sept. 7, 1945, now a widow of 10 years. Also a born again Christian since 1980.
My first thought when I saw the pictures was that America needs to repent. I don't know why this happened, but I can name several sins that have had an enormous effect on this nation:
1. The destruction of 40 million pre-born babies. When the Senate voted to ban the horrible abortion procedure known as partial birth, they could only get 64 votes of the 67 needed to override the expected presidential veto.
2. Prejudice for all kinds of reasons, but most because we aren't all alike. To me that is the Creator's business.
3. Flag desecration. What does a flag really mean to you? Keep this in mind. The troops that do our fighting are taught to respect the flag and they do. They know something of where it has been and of the price young Americans have paid fighting to keep our freedoms. They serve willingly, patriotically, proudly under this national banner and not desecrate it in any way. Prior to this attack anything you could do to the flag was acceptable and was considered freedom of speech. The talking we do about the flag is speech. The act of burning, stomping or putting your bodily waste on it is desecration.
4. Divorce. Statistics show more Christians than non-Christians get divorced. If Christians would live as if the verse below matters, this would be a much different nation.
I quote 2 Chronicles 7:14… "If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and well heal their land."
Mildred Smith
Quitman
Agri-Center says thanks'
To the Editor:
I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to a longtime business in the Meridian area. Southern Publishing Co. opened for business in 1962 with three employees. They began with a monthly publication to sell horses and other miscellaneous farming equipment.
In the year 2002 (with 25 employees) the company will begin its 40th year in business and is now recognized as having one of the largest equine publications in the world. Magazines are currently magazines being shipped to readers in all 50 states and about 20 foreign countries.
They have earned many prestigious awards, including the Western Heritage Wrangler Award from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center and the Golden Spur Award from the Western Writers of America. In 1992, they were inducted into the Palomino Horse Breeders of America Hall of Fame.
Southern Publishing Co. has been a tremendous asset to us at the Lauderdale County Agri-Center. In the last 12 issues of The Southern Horseman, the Agri-Center has been advertised in a full page ad at no cost to Lauderdale County. I would like to say thank you to Thelma Thompson, Cindy Thompson Aucoin, Tracy Thompson Bourgeois and all the great people at Southern Publishing Co. for your support. Business is great at the Agri-Center due to supporters such as these.
We invite and encourage everyone to come by and show your support for the Lauderdale County Agri-Center and what we are offering the citizens of Meridian and Lauderdale County.
Rob Seal
Director Lauderdale County Agri-Center