Thanks from Grand Marshal

It is with sincere gratitude that I thank the Georgetown Business Association and more especially Mrs. Katie Maleckar and Miss Amy Salmon for the honor of being Grand Marshal for the 2009 Christmas Parade.

 I am appreciative of the honor.

Georgetown has been my life-long home and to be recognized and honored in such a lovely and meaningful manner is a memory I will cherish for all time.

 Thank you — for all those responsible — and for the hard work involved.

Also, your two journalists — Clayton Stairs and Scott Harper — accorded me much pleasure by the publicity in the Wednesday December 2, 2009 edition of the Downtown Georgetown Christmas Festival supplement of THE GEORGETOWN TIMES.

 How fortunate we are to have young men of their calibre in our midst giving their best to your newspaper and our area.

As for my letter to Santa, please convey to him that my stocking has already been filled with so many blessings, such as love and care, and by my being placed in The Garden Spot of the World, Georgetown — where “Things go better with Coke” (Coca-Cola)!

Gratefully,

Nell Morris Cribb

(The Coca-Cola Lady)

Postal problem

We put our trust in the United States Post Office to deliver our letters and certified mail to the appropriate destination and at the appropriate time.

 These letters and certified mail are often very important.

 My story may be like many others.

On November 25, 2009, I sent a certified letter stating my son had permission to travel with his father to our home country, Columbia.

The woman at the Post Office guaranteed the permission to travel letter [would] arrive at the appropriate destination, Columbia, South America, within 3-5 business days.

 This letter was very important because without it my son and husband were not allowed to travel.

 What happened to the letter?

The letter was sent to El Salvador. The outcome was that my son and husband are still in our home country and are unable to travel back to the United States.

The process of sending a certified letter must start all over again.

In this process of sending the letter, I have to continue to pay rescheduling  returning flight fees on my credit card.

 The problem is that the Post Office acknowledged fault when they reimbursed me for the original $27 I spent to send the letter on November 25, 2009.

 However, they will not reimburse me for the $400 plus dollars I have to spend to reschedule flights.

 What is the guarantee that they will send the next letter to the appropriate country?

 My message to others is that we must be cautious when using the United States Postal Service. These letters and certified mail represent people, so we must have a voice.

 Maria Victoria Fuquen

Pawleys Island

Aiding Georgetown Port

The time has come for all good men and women to come to the aid of their Country and the Georgetown Port.  I have sent an email to Senator

Lindsey Graham, Senator Jim Demint, and US Congressman Henry Brown requesting their assistance in getting our port dredged.

I know that Mayor elect Jack Scoville has already started discussing the needs of our port.

Jack Scoville served on the SPA for approximately 4 years and has contacts within the State Ports Authority.

Georgetown County currently has a member on the SPA Board Harry Butler.  City Council Members, Brendon Barber and Clarence Smalls once worked on the Georgetown docks and should understand the importance of having an active Port and the impact it has on our economy.

Newly elected City Council member Jeanette Ard has already started doing everything that she can addressing the economic conditions facing Georgetown.

 We thank you City Council elect Jeanette Ard.  In my opinion, leaders should lead in an effort to address the problems that their constituency is facing.

 Do any of you disagree with our Port being a vital recruitment tool in order to attract business in Georgetown?

  If you agree, then please do something meaningful that our State and Federal Elected leaders will see as a positive sign about the Port.

 It was a slap in the face for the citizens of Georgetown when our Honorable Governor Mark Sanford visited Georgetown and commented that he supports the Georgetown Port and recommended that we make noise.

 Our elected leaders should have already been making noise.

What is the problem that prevents our elected leaders from getting together and discussing our Port?

 Some of us in the Labor Movement interpret our elected leader’s lack of action for the Port of Georgetown as a sign of non-support.

How else can you describe the pitiful condition our port is in?  

Our port has been abandoned by our elected leaders.

It’s a shame that we have to bring to the attention of our elected leaders what they should already know.

 Maybe, just maybe there will be a meeting between the City Council, County Council, State Delegation, Business &Labor leaders, Harry Butler and the economic development commission to discuss and develop a plan to move the Port of Georgetown forward.

I ask all of you to MAKE NOISE so you can be heard in Washington loud and clear.

My Christmas wish is for the elected leaders of South Carolina announce that once a year an economic summit will be held to discuss the needs for the State of South Carolina.

The Governor and the Two US Senators, Six US Congressmen along with the County Council Chairpersons and City Mayors will start working as team instead of everyone for themselves.

Just imagined what could happen to the State of South Carolina if all of our elected leaders promoted working together as Team.

We would make a lot of progress in the areas that need addressing in this State.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

In Solidarity,

James E. Sanderson Jr.

President, United Steelworkers Local 7898