Willie,

Comment on the drinking laws ... In 1968 I was sitting in the canals of Vietnam fighting for the right of Americans to be free, but if I was home in South Carolina I would not be able to drink alcohol. Please quit insulting us with your morals and then turn around and ask us to die for your freedom.

Willie says:

Point made, but you probably wouldn’t have had a sergeant sitting over your shoulder had you been home in the bar instead of in Vietnam. I salute your for your service to our country. Maybe we can share a cold one some day since we’re both clearly of age now.

Willie,

In support of your response to the stereotyping of Spanish speaking people beyond the checkout counter at Walmart, one might look at those working construction in our area be it roofing, nailing or cement work. If you listen closely, you will hear a great deal of the Spanish language. One might then ask why these same folks who often work six days a week pay FICA, social security taxes and property taxes or rent are at Walmart using social assistance.

Willie says:

I’m not sure exactly what you are saying. I will say this, however, you don’t have to be Spanish to get assistance. Many people who speak Spanish in their own culture can speak English when they choose to; it’s a free world. People who are willing and can work, should work, pay taxes and enjoy America. If they are here illegally, their employers should be fined and the workers deported. That’s the law.

Willie,

Just have one thing to say. Please tell me what’s wrong with that OMC. I took my son to the hospital, and he had a very high temperature and there was a long wait time. I understand that. But she told me I needed to leave, go to the store and get him some Tylenol. Now, I’m in the hospital where Tylenol and everything else should be. How about giving me something to break his fever?

Willie says:

Sorry you had to wait, but that’s health care in America these days. Emergency rooms are overrun by people who have no other alternative when it comes to care. All cases are triaged and the most severe are generally treated first. She probably told you to go get a Tylenol because you were going to have to wait and, maybe, just maybe, because a Tylenol administered in an emergency room will cost MUCH, MUCH more than one purchased over the counter. She really did you a favor.

Willie,

I am confused about the traffic light at DMV office and Walmart and was wondering if you can get a right answer from the right person. I have seen people proceed when the turning arrow is green and then when it goes out and you have a green light they still turn left. Are you supposed to only be able to turn left on green arrow or can you still go when just green light is on? I don’t want to cause an accident or get a ticket so please give me the right answer. I asked the girls at DMV and was told anytime the light is green you can go they thought, but wasn’t sure if that was true. Why put a turning arrow there to confuse us. Also to the people protesting at Bountyland traffic lights, I passed by them several times and couldn’t read one word on their signs and was afraid their group would distract someone and cause a traffic accident and hurt someone, maybe even one of them. If they are going to protest, please find a safer place and make your signs larger and bolder so we know what you are protesting.

Willie says:

The turning arrow gives you control of the intersection for as long as the green arrow is on. When it goes out, you can still turn on a green light but only after the traffic clears, just like you would at an intersection without an arrow.

Willie,

What does it take to convince Oconee County taxpayers that we are still getting the shaft? If the current council thinks we are not being overtaxed then we need to tar and feather them and run them out of town. Why haven’t they provided an audit of the issue like they promised? Guess now that they are in office, the status quo is being maintained. Why don’t we demand an accounting? It appears that we may have to litigate to get an answer. Thanks to the newspaper for keeping us informed.

Willie says:

I think an audit would certainly clean things up and answer some questions once and for all. The Council has been told they have $6 million in funds that were not spent on various projects. But, there is also the question of where the money has gone that the former auditor said was unspent against the budget over at least two years … some $15 million. If you budget it and collect it but don’t spend it, it really ought to be somewhere. Even if the $6 million is part of the $15 million, that leaves another $9 million.