Hamlet once was a town buzzing with activity and vigor, a friendly, busy railroad town with elected officials who showed they cared about you. It was Hamlet’s atmosphere of caring people that attracted me. I had found my home.
The present City Hall changed Hamlet, and not for the better. City Hall seems to prioritize things (buildings, vehicles, etc.) rather than accommodating Hamlet citizens’ needs. The small town involvement of Hamlet’s people is a thing of the past. Citizens get information after decisions have been made. We haven’t television coverage of City Council meetings. Why is City Hall not televising these meetings? It is difficult for voting senior citizens to attend night meetings. Bring the meetings back into their homes.
After reading Terry Moore’s bashing of Jessie McQueen in the paper, I felt compelled to write my unfortunate experience with Chief Moore. I had a car accident, my daughter with me. I was “in the right” moving with the green light. Witnesses were present. My daughter talked with Moore and was told I could go to court, probably win, but it wouldn’t be worth it. I had always respected the chief but realized that he wasn’t concerned, even though he represented Hamlet’s law. His callous treatment of me, paying car repairs, increased insurance, and all for being broadsided in my car by a red light runner.
New elected officials and a city manager are needed.
Reasons:
1. Railroad museum fiasco.
2. Destruction of drawf pear trees — Main Street’s charm.
3. Maltreatment of Hamlet Tree Board.
4. Losing Tree City USA.
5. Numerous broken promises.
Dora Boney
Hamlet
I made the statement that additional library FACILITIES would be a reasonable request for parents, who were concerned about their child's education. I never see a parent asking for any king of additional educational programs, it is always a sports program!
Why do we need more library facilities in Richmond County? Rockingham, Hamlet, and Ellerbe all have nice libraries. You may have not been addressing me directly, but I've never asked for anyone to "entertain" my children. I am perfectly capable of providing that service myself, and I'm not entirely sure that I would approve of anyone else's efforts. I think county taxes should be raised in order to provide more fiscal support for our school system. I am not a wealthy person, but I understand the fiscal needs of our school system and I'm not opposed to a tax increase to better provide that service. I do not need to re-think my priorities, I clearly stated education is a priority in my home. I would wish that for all children in this county. I also strongly believe that education begins in the home. The value system set in the home impacts the child more than the values of their peers. I do wish that more parents felt as I do, and sadly this is not always the case. If the economy of Richmond County is ever to rise like a Phoenix from the ashes, education, not elected officials, will be the fire that ignites.
We do and have volunteered in this community for many years. How do you think we know what's going on at City Hall in Hamlet? You are the one who needs to wise up, or could it be that you have a personal financial interest in that three blocks of Main Street.
What I don't understand is why you parents are not asking for more library facilities in this community. I never see any of you asking for support in your efforts to educate your children, it is always please entertain my children for me. To be very honest with you I have very little sympathy for your efforts. I have been voting in Richmond County for a long time and I have often disagreed with the decisions made by the school board, but I have NEVER voted against money for education! Maybe you parents should rethink your priorities. I am all for men taking their children to school the first day of school, but I would also be all in favor of them paying their child support 10 days early so the mothers could get school supplies and uniforms for the beginning of the school year! Maybe the single mothers and their supports should start a campaign to get this done. I'm willing to show up for support!
The city manager and a few other elected officials seem to be totally above the law, and when the rest of us call their hand we are hit with vindictive actions. Look at the Tree Board. Look at Jessie McQueen. Look at the RR museum group. Look at Norton. Look at the letter the city manager made each Hamlet employee sign. Why doesn't the city manager live in Hamlet? Why did the council accept an illegal petition (which the mayor signed) and acted on it? Was Marchelle and the Mayor to dumb to know that it was an illegal document. I doubt that Marchelle is that dumb, I'm not so sure about the current mayor!
As for the railroad, in the 30 or so years I've lived here, I've never known it to be that buzzing industry you remember. I think that is just the way of the world. I think that former elected officals of Richmond County built the county's "life" around industries that unfortunately are no longer viable (like the railroad and textiles). In their heyday they were great and offered good jobs and good retirement, but when these industries failed, well, so did the economy of Richmond County. The most unfortunate thing is that the more recent past (last 15 years) and the current elected officials haven't been able to entice industry to come to Richmond County for whatever reason. Is that their fault? I don't know. I personally don't place the blame entirely upon their heads. I think some of the blame must be placed upon the population of the county. We don't have the kind of educated workforce living here that will attract the kind of viable industry that is out there today. As everybody here already knows, we live in a poor, rural county. The poverty and lack of education here is multi-generational. If we want good, viable industry to come back to Richmond County, then the citizenship must step up to the plate by getting an education. Education is the key. It is a lesson that parents must teach their children! My children know that persuing a college education is expected, not a choice. You can't make it in this world today without a college education. If you pay attention to the news, you know that a even a college education isn't a guarentee of employment. Life is hard, the world changes everyday. We have to keep up with it.
As far as chief moore goes, you didn't have to listen, nothing was stopping you from getting an attorney and suing the other person (unless maybe they didn't have insurance or money and maybe thats why the officer told you what he did....).
Here is an idea, try and get some NEW business or something for the younger kids of Hamlet to do. Otherwise the whole town will be a mueseum.