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Here's my nickel!
Published Dec. 19, 2003

Dear Chronicle,
How can there be any hope of improving the pitiful 46 percent graduate rate while the county commissioners send the students the message that all of the training and education their teachers have acquired is not worth a nickel?
Kenneth and Wanda Beattie
Open Range Rd.

Dear Chronicle,
Your campaign for school funds is commendable. For several years I have had a license plate on my car with the caption, "Helping Schools." I am told that part of my cost goes to schools each year. Is that correct? I don't know the amount,
Mary V. Merywether
Wilshire Heights Dr.
(Editor's note: You paid $59 for your Helping Schools license plate. Cumberland County Clerk Brenda Hyder reports that of that amount, $31 less five percent goes to the county school system,)

Dear Chronicle,
Enclosed please find our check in support of the Nickel Tax Revolt. We can only hope that our county commissioners have received the message. We support our schools and our school children.
However, we have other problems that our elected officials, both county and state, refuse to recognize. Cumberland County has only eight troopers to patrol all of our county roads. Eight times 40 hours equals 320 hours in one month. Thirty times 24 hours equals 720 hours and that means that in a month, there are 400 hours when we do not have troopers patrolling our roads!
Why? Because Tennessee's elected officials are not providing the needed funding to make our roads safe. Cumberland County officials are not funding our sheriff's department with desperately needed communications equipment.
When life-saving equipment is not provided but they do vote to pave a parking lot, I have to wonder where our priorities are.
I feel that everyone living in Cumberland County should monitor our elected officials on their official Web site. See www.brockhill.org. Let's support local and statewide law enforcement agencies.
If that means a state income tax or a wheel tax, we should demand that law enforcement agencies are provided with the tools and the manpower to do their jobs.
Robert Engle
Lake Tansi

Dear Chronicle,
Sign us up.
Dennis Gregg and Louise Gorenflo
Hood Dr.

Dear Chronicle,
Enclosed is my share of taxes had the nickel increase gone into effect. Cumberland county needs desperately to do all it can to improve education and make it a priority with its citizens.
Mildred Callis
Malvern Rd.
Fairfield Glade

Dear Chronicle,
We have no children here in Cumberland County schools, but all children need an education in today's society. Here is our check in support of the Nickel Tax Rebellion.
Charles and Patricia Ferguson Sr.
Breckenridge Lake

Dear Chronicle,
Please add our contribution to the Nickel Tax Rebellion. Support for education is vital to our children's future.
Judy and Art Wojta
Quail Ridge Rd.

Dear Chronicle,
Enclosed is our "nickel's worth." Hope it helps!
Jack and Rebecca Fulkerson
Belvedere Lane
Fairfield Glade

Dear Chronicle,
Please add our contribution to the Nickel Tax Rebellion fund. Education is the key to a successful future for our children and community.
Pete and Linda Tiffany
Canterbury Dr.
Fairfield Glade

Dear Chronicle,
Count me in with all others who are joining the Nickel Tax Rebellion of our great Cumberland County. Enclosed is my share to help our children become well-educated, and to see our teachers receive the pay they deserve.
May the Chronicle staff and all the rest of us enjoy a holy and joyous Christmas.
Lillian Horony
Robin Hood Dr.

Dear Chronicle,
My husband's and my educations have meant so much to both of us through the years. We are giving double the proposed nickel tax.
Martha and Raymond Pierson
Washington St.

Dear Chronicle,
We would like to contribute our nickel and more to help promote the education of the students of Cumberland County.
Richard and Joan Eineke
Ashdown Lane
Fairfield Glade

Dear Chronicle,
Enclosed is our contribution to the Nickel Tax Rebellion. Call it an investment in the future of Crossville, TN. Maybe the schools and library were good enough 30 years ago, but this is the 21st century. Our children deserve the best we can and should provide.
A well-educated child becomes a successful adult.
Bill and Susan Schmich
Quail Ridge Rd.

Dear Chronicle,
Enclosed is our contribution to the Nickel Tax Rebellion. Educating the children of our community is essential for their future and for the future of this community, of which they will become leaders.
Thanks to the school board for the time and effort they contribute.
Muriel and Jim Bentley
Kingsboro Lane,
Fairfield Glade

Dear Chronicle,
Enclosed is our check for the Cumberland County schools. The county commissioners do not recognize the importance of education. We need to improve the education system and the county commissioners need to recognize this. The children are our country's future. Let's provide quality education.
Charles and Jane Karriker
Magnolia Lane

Dear Chronicle,
Enclosed is our contribution toward the Nickel Tax Rebellion. Please see that the Board of Education gets it. Hopefully, we have shamed the county commissioners who don't care much about the kids in the county as we transplants do. Thanks!
Paul and Barbara Kehnle
Camelot Lane, Fairfield Glade

Dear Chronicle,
Please add this to the growing number of folks who support education and especially here in Cumberland County. It is my hope that the county commissioners will eventually come to realize that education is priceless and without it a person is likely doomed to a low-paying wage for their work years.
Thanks to you for your effort and support.
Dick and Carol Copeland
Huntington Dr.
Fairfield Glade

Dear Chronicle,
We would like to join the tax protest with our check. We came from New Jersey. Our last property tax bill came to $10,000 annually and of that, 60 percent was for schools,
Bob and Carol Salve
Crossville

Dear Chronicle,
Even though we have never had children in the schools here, we feel that our adopted state needs to keep education first. Our check is included for the Nickel Tax Rebellion.
Jim and Janice Musselman
Markham Ct., Fairfield Glade

Dear Chronicle,
With a business in Crossville that pays property taxes to both the city and the county, and three lots at Fairfield Glade, I decided it would be easier to pay you a flat amount rather than waste my time trying to figure this out to the penny.
Janet Kellis
Crossville