Letters to the Editor

Citizen Responds to Article

In response to Oct 24-30 article Illegal Drugs Investigations in Charlotte and Lunenburg Results in 63 Felony Charges.  95 new investigations initiated Jan 1 2019 and going forward (an Election Year).

Law officers in Charlotte County told me how impossible drug arrests were not much more than a year ago.

So, drug enforcement can happen if it’s an election year and there is a challenger to the current sheriff’s administration.  But, wait, is it just political propaganda?  The state police are not supposed to be in politics yet, somehow an old story that has already been out, somehow comes out fresh to ABC 13, the Southside Messenger, and the Charlotte Gazette. Submitted by the state police roughly 2 weeks before election.  What, we didn’t have noteworthy drug arrest stories of this volume and scale to print middle or end of Oct. 2016, 2017, and 2018?

With sarcasm and pun intended it is my opinion that drug dealers in Charlotte County feel relatively safe on non-election years. 

George Toombs

Saxe, Virginia

Editor’s Note: The Multi-jurisdictional Task Force serving Charlotte and Lunenburg Counties reported 95 drug cases in 2018 and 82 drug cases in 2017.  A total of 79 felony and 34 misdemeanor arrests were made, many reported in The Messenger.  Additional drug arrests were made by officers at traffic stops. 

Vote for the Candidate, Not the Party

Dear Editor,

As we the people get ready go vote next month,  I would like to ask that we turn out to have our say, but if you are voting only along  party lines instead of who is most qualified, then stay home.

Speaking of voting, may I remind you that at one time only white men who had land were the only ones who could vote. 
Look at the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments. 
Congressional Republicans unanimously backed 13th Amendment (1865) while 63% of Democrat Senators and 78% of Democrat house members voted against it.
The 14th Amendment (1868) 94% Republican Senators and 96% of Republican House members voted in favor of it. ALL Congressional Democrats voted against it. 
Now, here is the jaw dropper, the15th Amendment. All Democrats, every single  one voted against, while nearly all  Congressional Republicans voted to pass the Amendment that guarantees  all blacks who are legally eligible to VOTE!

Now if you think this is a black vs white thing, let me ask, are not the leadership of the Democratic party  mostly white? Aren’t there blacks in the Republican party? 
How about the most famous African American abolitionist Frederick Douglass who said, “I am a Republican, a black, dyed in the wool  Republican,  and I never intend to belong to any other party than the party of freedom and progress.” (Read his autobiography) 

One other note, can you name the first Republican President? Look it up. You’ll be surprised! (Hint, he was born in Illinois.) 

Michael Antonellini

Citizen Supports Roslyn Tyler

Dear Editor,

I am writing this article because it is very important for everyone to know Delegate Roslyn Tyler and the many accomplishments she has forth for and achieved over the last 14 years while representing the 75^th District in the Virginia House of Delegates. As a Christian, medical professional and a small business owner, she has had a positive impact on the 75^th District constituents and businesses. A respected and experienced public servant, Delegate Tyler has earned a reputation in Richmond for building consensus, making informed decisions and finding common sense solutions. More importantly, she makes sure ALL our voices are heard, democrats, republicans and independents.

Delegate Tyler was appointed by the House Speaker to serve on the Education, Militia Police & Public Safety and the Commerce and Labor Committees; in 2018 she was appointed to the House of Appropriations – Budget Committee. She has been a strong advocate for Education, healthcare, Virginia farmers, the logging and forestry industry and the public safety officers and hunting rights. Delegate Tyler serves on the Virginia Rural Center Board of Directors, the Joint Commission on Health, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission and a member of the Legislator Sportsmen and Rural Caucus.

Delegate Tyler stood up and carried legislation for the Virginia Education Association (HB 2332) that increased teacher’s salaries at or above the national average resulting in teachers receiving their highest pay raise in 15 years. As a member of the House of Appropriations, she was instrumental in increasing the salary for Correctional Officers and Deputy Sheriffs attracting over $11 million to improve infrastructure and create jobs. Delegate Tyler voted for Medicaid expansion providing 400,000 Virginians access to healthcare and affordable prescription drugs. Delegate Tyler successfully led the bi-partisan fight to protect hunting with dogs and sportsmen’s rights which was about to be eliminated in Virginia defeating the proposed law (HB 1900) 48-47 votes. Had she not fought for hunters, hunt clubs would have been forced to close their doors throughout Virginia. 

As many of you have read flyers and seen false advertisements (from her opponent) on radio and television about Delegate Tyler visiting France. While serving on the Commerce and Labor Committee, Delegate Tyler was chosen in 2011 to be part of a bi-partisan delegation of Senators, Delegates and business owners to visit France to explore a multi-billion operation requesting to come to Virginia.  This trip was not funded by taxpayer dollars but business owners. Because of Virginia’s bi-partisan delegation approach to attract businesses, Virginia has been rated as the best state in the Nation to do business.

Delegate Tyler continues to work towards creating higher paying jobs and expansion of high-speed internet for homes and businesses in Southside Virginia, as an attempt to keep young graduates in our communities.

On Tuesday, November 5^th I urge everyone to vote to re-elect Delegate Roslyn Tyler to the House of Delegates.

Thank you,

Mary Beth Washington