James McNamara
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Comments
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On the article Should Bartender Who Reported Drunk Driver Be Given Her Job Back?
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On the article Barrow County has 'Arrived'
James McNamara
10:19 am on Monday, October 29, 2012
ReplyYou'll have to pardon me if I don't view the development at 81 and 316 as positively as you. I see unrestricted growth as having a negative impact on the quieter way of life we enjoy in Barrow County.
A drive through Gwinnett County will give you an idea of what will happen to Barrow County in the next 20 years unless something changes. . Nearly every major intersection has shopping centers or, at the very least, "convenience store gas stations", all of which breed that bane to a comfortable lifestyle, heave traffic.
As to keeping the money in Barrow County, Publix is a Florida company, T.J. Maxx is a Massachusetts company, Target is headquartered in Minnesota and even the Varsity is an Atlanta company. Offhand, I can;t think of a single company at that intersection that is headquartered in Barrow County. So much for shopping local to keep the money in the county. . Yes, the wages go to local folks, but even there is a hitch - the real money, the corporate salaries go elsewhere.
I would far rather see the growth attach itself to Winder than for Winder to attach itself to the growth. I applaud Aldi's for building a store in Winder. I even applaud Dollar General for building their new mart in Statham, although I wished they'd not had to strip the land bare to do it - there are several places within a few hundred yards that could have accommodated the new store.
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On the article Barrow County has 'Arrived'
James McNamara
10:18 am on Monday, October 29, 2012
ReplyYou'll have to pardon me if I don't view the development at 81 and 316 as positively as you. I see unrestricted growth as having a negative impact on the quieter way of life we enjoy in Barrow County.
A drive through Gwinnett County will give you an idea of what will happen to Barrow County in the next 20 years unless something changes. . Nearly every major intersection has shopping centers or, at the very least, "convenience store gas stations", all of which breed that bane to a comfortable lifestyle, heave traffic.
As to keeping the money in Barrow County, Publix in a Florida company, T.J. Maxx is a Massachusetts company, Target is headquartered in Minnesota and even the Varsity is an Atlanta company. Offhand, I can;t think of a single company at that intersection that is headquartered in Barrow County. So much for shopping local to keep the money in the county. . Yes, the wages go to local folks, but even there is a hitch - the real money, the corporate salaries go elsewhere.
I would far rather see the growth attach itself to Winder than for Winder to attach itself to the growth. I applaud Aldi's for building a store in Winder. I even applaud Dollar General for building their new mart in Statham, although I wished they'd not had to strip the land bare to do it - there are several places within a few hundred yards that could have accommodated the new store.
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On the article Longhorn Restaurant in Works for Gateway Station
James McNamara
9:46 am on Wednesday, October 24, 2012
ReplyI'd much rather see one real restaurant with a real chef preparing great food than any more chain restaurants (or members of families of restaurants) using cooks to prepare decent food for the masses. I had hoped that someone would recognize that we still must drive out of Barrow County to get a great meal.
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On the article Readers' Choice: Pizza Place
James McNamara
9:41 am on Saturday, July 28, 2012
ReplyLiving outside Statham, I must drive 6.5 miles to Dooley's, 7.3 to Little Italy, or 13 miles to Your Pie on Alps Road in Athens. If I'm in Winder and want pizza, I'll go to Dooley's, but if I've got to leave the house to go out for pizza, Your Pie's quality and choices wins hands down.
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On the article Penn State Sanctions - Fair or Not?
James McNamara
9:21 pm on Thursday, July 26, 2012
ReplyThe sad thing to me is that the horrible stories that came out in Sandusky's trial could have been at any major football college in the US. Head coaches and athletic directors have been positioned on such high pedestals for so long, that there is an aura of infallibility about them. Take, for instance, the Harrick scandal at UGA. Both Coach Harrick and his son were sent packing, but the Athletic Director, to whom Harrick reported, wore teflon armor and nothing would stick. That is not to say that Vince Dooley had done anything wrong himself, but if he didn't know Harrick Junior was padding the report cards of players, he wasn't doing his job.
If Joe Paterno had done his job when Sandusky's actions were first reported, he'd be the winningest coach ever, his star would shine brighter than it ever had, and Jerry Sandusky would already be serving time as a pedophile.
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On the article Supreme Court Got it Wrong Again
James McNamara
10:28 am on Monday, July 16, 2012
ReplyAs a retired serviceman, I'm torn in two directions on this one. On one hand, I swore to support and defend the Constitution, including the First Amendment and it's free speech clause. On the other, the medals and rank earned by members of our armed forces are sacrosanct and must remain so.
Almost immediately following the Supreme Court decision came two separate reports that should help in this situation.
The first was an announcement by the Department of Defense that they were developing a database that would enable tracking the veracity of those claiming military service and valor. If someone says they served and received certain awards and rank, a quick check of the database could offer proof or evidence of a lie. Let the voters, potential employers, or other decide what action should be taken.
The second was the announcement by bipartisan members of Congress who publicized a tweaked version of the law, introduced last year, which would make it a federal crime to receive a benefit from lying about military service.
I like the tweaked bill because it still permits free speech and yet makes it illegal to benefit from a lie.
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On the article 'Bermuda Triangle Award' Sparks Conversation about School Recognitions
James McNamara
9:12 am on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
ReplyI think there's more of a story there.
First of all, a kindergarten teacher who does that doesn't belong teaching at that level. I wonder if Ashley Payne is interested in the job. I bet she wouldn't do anything like this to one of her students. A cocktail after work maybe, but certainly nothing to embarrass a child.
Second, it appears to me that this teacher feels it necessary to give an award to every single child in his or her class, doing a disservice to those who truly excel when they see slackers also getting awards, and to the slackers who are, in effect, being told, "It's OK to not try hard."
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On the article Barrow County Restaurant Inspections for April 11: Pizza Hut and Georgia Club's Golf Club Score in the Mid-80s on Inspections
James McNamara
10:26 am on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
ReplyYou'd think that an upscale restaurant where the dinner entrees average over $18.00 each could pass a health inspection with no critical findings.
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On the article 'Cut to the Bare Bones': Commission Chairman Discusses County Budget during Public Forum
James McNamara
8:25 pm on Tuesday, July 19, 2011
There is one on the wall in the zoning office at the county admin bldg
James McNamara
10:51 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Ohio has some pretty specific text in their Dram Shop Act. As a former businessman, I think the bar owner should have the right to hire and fire as he (or she) sees fit, but then he or she also has a responsibility to the public.
http://www.mrrlaw.com/a-drunk-walks-out-of-a-bar/