LEDGER COLUMNIST

I received a letter this week from a 'Concerned Gaffney Indian Fan.'

Seeing as how we do not publish unsigned letters under our "Letters to the Editor' heading, but understanding that the issue brought up by 'Concerned' is in the interest of public safety, I decided to publish the comments in my column.

Here goes: "I am a Gaffney Indian Football fan and I enjoy coming to the games. However, it frightens me that upon entering through the gates of the stadium there are not police or security there with metal detecting wands making sure that fans are not carrying weapons.

"I am a graduate of Crest High School and all of the North Carolina high school football games that I have attended since the mid to late 90s have all had someone at the gate 'wanding' fans before entering. This concern comes after I attended the Dorman game and when I was walking back to my seat from the Booster Club Booth there was a young man getting ready to fight.

"There were many people mobbing around and I was stuck right in the middle of it. I heard a female security officer tell a police officer that two young men were going to fight and when the officer approached the crowd everyone scattered.

"I was relieved that the officer was so close by, but, what if he had not been? What if one of the young men had a gun. I just hope that it does not take a fatality for extra precautions to be taken."

Well, whaddaya think?

Do we need increased security at the Gaffney football games? Do we need metal detectors in place at each gate to make sure no one brings a weapon into the stadium?

If it ever does come to that, getting into the games will be a nightmare. It was crowded enough WITHOUT any security delays. I can't imagine what it would be like if each person had to be screened before entering the stadium.

At the University of South Carolina football games, bag-carrying fans entering Williams-Brice Stadium must go through a special gate where their bags (including pocketbooks) are searched.

Those searches don't take but a second, as security personnel usually just poke a stick in the bag and take a quick peek.

I never have been to a game where metal detectors or 'wands' were used.

I have been through the tough security at airports and when there's a crowd, it takes FOREVER.

There's a metal detector at the Cherokee County Courthouse through which all visitors must pass. The times I have been, there have been no lines, thus there were no delays. I expect, though, things get a bit bogged down when court is in session.

It's a shame that fans like 'Concerned' are afraid for their safety when they attend a high school football game, but I don't think checking every fan for weapons is the answer. Let's hope it never becomes necessary.

Another anonymous letter arrived on my desk this week with the writer concerned about police targeting certain neighborhoods and certain groups of people. "Just because you see people driving brand new cars don't mean they're selling or dealing drugs."

I guess the writer has a new car or knows someone who does and the cops have been harassing them.

Then they go on to say that the police should go where the drugs are freely flowing around and mentions some areas of the city one might describe as upper-middle class.

"These are the places where people can't afford the house payments and have illegal mess going on. Quit messing with the poor whites, blacks, Mexicans or other groups."

Oh well, let's move on.

I've been a bit surprised, no I've been a LOT surprised, that we haven't received any mail — pro or con — about Waste Management's proposed recycling/ landfill project.

I know a lot of you must still be undecided, but I expect most folks have already determined whether they are for it or against it.

If you don't want to go through all the trouble to write a letter, put it in an envelope, put a stamp on it and take it to a mail box, shoot me an e-mail at cody@gaffneyledger.com.

Just remember, if you want it published, sign your name. Don't count on me using excerpts like I did with these two today.

Cody Sossamon (cody@gaffneyledger.com) is publisher of The Gaffney Ledger.