This letter is in response to all those who said, “Never.” It is in response to all those who are still voting along, “racial lines.” It is in response to all of those who still believe they are doing everything “on their own.”

Let me give some clues as to who ordained the great day of Nov. 4, 2008. In chemistry, He turned the water into wine. In biology, He was born without the normal conception. In physics, He disproved the law of gravity when He ascended into heaven. In economics, He disproved the law of diminishing returns when He fed 5,000 people with two fish and five loaves of bread. In medicine, He cured the sick and blind without administering a single dose of drugs. In history, He is the beginning and the end. In government, He said that He shall be called Wonderful, Counselor and the Prince of Peace.

This letter is for everyone who believes that God is and has always been the one in control.

Congratulations to Barack Obama on becoming president of the United States!

Oneka Washington

Vicksburg

Classrooms first for Price

Dr. Jim Price is making a world of difference in our public schools. Since he began managing the system, he has been able to automate and standardize the classrooms, so as to eliminate wasted time and effort and allow teachers to dedicate more time to teaching. Students are no longer waiting around for attendance to be taken, and all the teachers are judged by the very same objective measures.

The demographics of our community are quite unique. We have a large number of children at both extremes — plenty who are highly motivated and successful, and unfortunately a large number who are not. 

His new interim program now provides a week at midterm to help those students who are not learning the necessary skills. He offers the very best teachers extra pay (real incentives) to bring along those students who need help and the results were astounding. This catches the problem without having to wait for summer school, and moves even our most challenging students toward success. He is now even looking to add advanced programs for our successful students during that same period, using the professional talent we have right here in Vicksburg.  

Some schools are investigating what is happening here in Vicksburg, while other schools find the changes threatening. It is a shame that some people would continue to blindly follow precedent and reject progress. Some schools are not willing to pay the Price.

Skipper Guizerix

Vicksburg

Positive change coming

In response to R.G. Hollowell’s letter of Nov. 2, regarding what was then the potential election of Barack Obama as president and as a fellow Bible student, I would suggest he, as well as all fellow Mississippians, read Romans 13:1, which states “…there is no power, but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”

After the debauchery of the Bush administration, in which suspicions abounds that dubious methods were utilized to obtain power, consider this: An economy that crashes only weeks before a national election, causing many Americans, I’m sure, to reassess for whom they should vote.

“Who has known the Mind of the Lord?” 1 Cor. 2:16

I believe Sen. Obama has the potential impact for positive change as an Abe Lincoln or FDR, given this crucial period of American history. The sincere desire of his heart is to see America, all of America, prosper.

Mae E. Harris

Port Gibson

A simple railing, please

The buzz word these days seems to be change, and the administration has done marvelous things in this regard in making Vicksburg beautiful, accessible and inviting.

The back door entrance to Vicksburg Auditorium is very nice and convenient, much appreciated by those of us having trouble with steps, but the city has omitted one extremely important feature. It would not cost an arm and a leg to put a single railing, just a plain length of pipe would do, along the wall beside the entrance ramp.

I would suggest they simply go ahead and do it. They probably have ample surplus materials already on hand.

L.G. Giles

Vicksburg

Daigre’s service sincere

I applaud the dedication and concern for our educational system which Jan Hyland Daigre has shown during her tenure on the school board. She is a dedicated public servant whose principles are high. I’m thankful she has had the courage to speak out and to stand by her convictions. Though she did not seek re-election, I hope this will not be the end of her public service.

Gordon Cotton

Yokena

First, foremost an educator

In the story reporting that I won the District 4 seat as trustee of the Vicksburg Warren School District, it was said that I am a professional politician. I am first and foremost an educator. I have worked with the children of our community for 45 years as a teacher, coordinator, principal, director and dean. I have taught at the junior high and senior high levels and in undergraduate and graduate levels of Mississippi State University. I hold associates, bachelors, masters and education specialist degrees.

As supervisor of vocational-technical and adult education in the VWSD, it was my privilege to write curricula for local industry including the Grand Gulf Nuclear Power Plant, Cooper Lighting, LeTourneau and others located in Warren County. As director and later dean of Hinds Community College in Warren County, it was my efforts and those of other dedicated educators that developed the largest secondary vo-tech center in Mississippi and eventually led to the development of the Vicksburg Warren Campus of Hinds Community College, where over 5,000 students have gained employment from training received.

I did not seek any public office until I retired from the school system with 30-plus years of service. I was elected mayor from 1993-1997 and then was defeated for re-election. I returned to the VWSD and taught high school job training classes for several years and still work parttime coordinating the VWSD Job Training Advisory Council, made up of business and industrial leaders maintaining a reserve labor force for our community. During my years leading vo-tech, our local students won over 1,400 awards in competition in local, state and national events.

I am a conservative public servant who raised his family in Warren County and I have handled millions in public funds with no lawsuits. I have been accountable and invite all taxpayers to call me if I may be of service to them.

Joseph L. Loviza

Vicksburg