Carolina rants and raves

I WANT TO KNOW why former Aiken County Councilman Russ Ferrara was able to fix his property taxes and why the Aiken County solicitor refuses to investigate or prosecute complaints about it. For example, his home is assessed at about half its value and his apartment complex on Banks Mill (Road) is also at about half. He may also be getting this "special discount" on his other investment properties. Why is this allowed? How can I get this special deal?

THIS IS A GREAT big rave for the city of North Augusta for the way the new Yellow Jasmine Festival was presented. It was a great place to take the family and enjoy the day. The band was very good and the crowd was well policed and behaved. I talked to one of the ladies that works for the city and she not only told me that they were going to do it again next year, but was very informative and got me a schedule for concerts in the park this summer. Also, the fireworks display that ended the evening was very good.

A RANT TO the city of North Augusta. They name a street the Aiken-Augusta Highway, yet the speed limit is only 45 mph. The policeman is sitting at the bottom of the hill waiting for cars to go by. It is very hard to go 45 when it's downhill unless you're damaging your car and riding the brakes the entire time. Yet when you're stopped, who knows how many other cars are passing you by speeding down that hill.

I, FOR ONE, enjoy the North Augusta Greeneway for biking. This time of year it is beautiful, and you can smell the honeysuckle. But I have a rant to those people that let their pets do their business on the pavement where other people walk and bicycle. Please stop.

THIS IS A RANT about the new arena at the University of South Carolina Aiken. Your security was terrible, and it is an accident waiting to happen. Never serve beer in glass bottles. If you must serve it, put it in plastic cups. They were being thrown at the ushers, and I reported it and no one cared.

THIS IS A RANT to grocery store managers. Don't you have policies that prohibit your married female employees from befriending and dating other married men that are your customers or your married male vendors? Do only unhappy married women who don't think twice about breaking up marriages work at grocery stores? I shop for cheap prices, not for cheap women who slip their phone numbers to my husband. This has happened to married friends and family of mine. Grocery store managers, your choices reflect upon your customers' choices concerning where they will shop. Please do something about your unprofessional staff!

CONGRATULATIONS BOB Smith for 30 years of good weather reporting at Channel 12 television. I have known Bob since I was a child and we both are aviators. Not only is he a good weatherman, he is also a fine person and I am proud to know him and call him my friend. Keep up the good work Bob, and here's to another 30 years at Channel 12.