19 January 2020

[Bess Tuggle] - IMHO, The Week in Review: Thanks to Stan Edwards, BOC 1 Commissioner

“We interrupt your regular programming to bring you this Special News Alert.”

Blah, blah, blah.  That was -most- of this week, and none of it was good news so I’ll spare you the details we all already know.  Impeachment, fires, weather, shootings.. that’s what we have shoved down our throats on a daily basis.  If you’d like a refreshing view, try French news (we -usually- watch it on Saturday, but had our youngest grandson  for the day).  I’ve got a friend that likes Japanese News too.  Throws a different perspective on the “panic” bulls*#t we’re being fed.  They, the news media, can’t seem to get to a consensus.  I have no idea what to believe anymore. 

I would like to thank the 16 Firefighter graduates in Newton County.  I won’t list them by name, you can read them in the newspaper, but I thank each and every one of them for their service.  It takes a special kind of person to devote their life to saving ours.  Thank You!!!

My “problem” of the week is the bathroom for the CNG (compressed natural gas) station on City Pond Road.  Really, folks?  How many actually use it?  $49, 093 for a bathroom so they can “advertise” it is ridiculous.  Ummm…  How many service stations do they pass to get there?  Buy a Coke and use the facilities.  IMHO a porta-potty is more fiscally responsible.  Thanks to the movie and construction industries, they’re also readily available all over our county.  I really, -really- REALLY want to know how our tax dollars are being spent.  If there’s any spare change, I’d like a new bathroom too please...

My pick for this week is Mr. Stan Edwards, 1st District Commissioner of the Newton Co. BOC. 

Again, I personally don’t like most politicians but thanks to a Facebook friend, I have to admit I’m impressed.

My friend sent a message to Mr. Stan Edwards, District 1 County Commissioner (yes, I’m in district 1) about our road problems out here.  We’re frequently considered the “boonies” of the county, and we like it that way.

His response was:

I had asked the DOT to evaluate the intersections of Hwy 11 & CR 213 and Hwy 142 & Dixie Rd mid year, last year. I have reached out to them again and they assure me that both intersections are being evaluated. They hinted a round-about is the plan for Dixie and 142. Myself and another car were passed on 142 just south of the intersection and headed toward the intersection twice last week. Both were scary moments. Adding more problems at that intersection is the 18 wheelers jumping off I-20 (following their GPS) at 11 and coming down Dixie to get to 213 and 36. I’ve had signs placed on Dixie at 213 and 278 trying to keep the tractor-trailers off Dixie.
Not sure what will happen at 11 and 213 in Mansfield but it is being evaluated too. That intersection is quite a bit trickier but I have had signs placed on 213 (both ends) prohibiting 18-wheelers that do not have deliveries or pick ups on 213. I’ll have more info when available. 
   

My hat’s off to Mr. Stan Edward this week.  Thank you, sir.

- Bess Tuggle