Comments from our readers:

I'M READING in the paper about the lady that had kids that hadn't been sent to school and couldn't read or do anything. Where were the neighbors? How did this go on that long? At this time in our lives in this nation, we need to turn to God. We need God more than we ever did, but I don't see anybody making any efforts to turn to God. If you see a neighbor like that again, don't let this happen again. I'm a big, tough retired sergeant major out of the Marine Corps, and when I read that article, like Judge Blanchard, I cried.

I HAVE A RANT for the Georgia pardons and paroles system. These drug dealers and drug offenders get five and 10 years. They only do 17 months to 24 months. That's just enough time for them to perhaps lose their children; if they had a job, lose their job; and if they had family, get their family to turn against them. Then they come back into the public, and people like me and other taxpayers who try to live right have to deal with the consequences. What I'm trying to get at is let them do their entire sentence. If they get five, let them stay in for five.

CONCERNING THE PICTURE of the man holding the two water bills in his hand on the front page: Notice the water usage on the bills. On the "old rates" the usage was 19,000 gallons; on the new bill the usage was 53,000 gallons. How does one use that much water? I watered the yard extensively in June, and I only used 19,000.

IT IS NOW TIME for the good citizens of South Carolina to find a true conservative to serve in Washington, D.C. Lindsey Graham needs to be voted out of office the next time he is up for re-election.

YEAH, RIGHT, I'm old, so health care reform will mean euthanasia for me. Probably have to wait in line, too. The people who disseminate this evil propaganda are ghouls. The people who actually believe it are already brain dead.

THE GRANITVILLE/VAUCLUSE water fiasco provides a perfect example of what can happen when charlatans or fools, not statesmen, are in our government. No amount of explaining can rationalize decisions to raise rates from 51 cents to $4.50 and from 89 cents to $6.50 in a single step.

NORTH AUGUSTA, there are companies that specialize in raising/lowering manholes to the same level as the road. You need to contact one of these companies because whoever attempts this task for you now stinks at it.