The Dickson Herald from Dickson, Tennessee • DA9

WEDNESDAY JULY 22, 2009 9A COMMUNITY FORUM BECKY MORAN I GENERAL MANAGER CHRIS GADD EDITOR Securing reliable, cheap, clean energy: A blueprint for 100 new nuclear plants THE DICKSON HERALD By Sen. Lamar Alexander We can't wait any longer to start building our future of clean, reliable and affordable energy. The time has come for action. We can revive America's industrial and hi-tech economy with the technology we already have at hand. The only requirement is that we open our minds to the possibilities and potential of nuclear power.

As we do, our policy of cheap and clean energy based upon nuclear power, electric cars, offshore exploration and doubling energy will help family budgets and create jobs. It will also prove to be the fastest way to increase American energy independence, clean the air and reduce global warming. Lamar Alexander is a U.S. senator from Tennessee. every American family budget.

I prefer a different solution, a low-cost plan for clean energy based upon these four steps: building 100 nuclear power plants within 20 years, supporting electric cars and trucks for conservation, exploring offshore for natural gas and oil and doubling energy research and development to make renewable energy cost-competitive. Unlike the House plan, which will raise prices and send jobs overseas looking for cheap energy, my plan which is supported by many Republicans in the Senate will lower utility bills and create jobs and should put the United States within the goals of the Kyoto Protocol on global warming by 2030. Nuclear power is the obvious first step to a policy of clean and low-cost energy. It already accounts for 70 percent of the pollution-free energy in our country. Building 100 new plants in the next 20 years would double U.S.

nuclear production, making it about 40 percent of all our electricity production. Add 10 percent for sun and wind and other renewables, another 10 percent for hydroelectric, maybe 5 percent for natural gas, and we begin to have a cheap as well as clean energy policy. The difficulties with nuclear power are political, not technological; social, not economic. The main obstacle is a lingering doubt and fear in the public mind about the technology. Any progressive administration that wishes to solve the problem of global warming without crushing the American economy should help the public resolve these doubts and fears.

What is needed boils down to two words: presidential leadership. Our country is at a critical point in its economic and energy history. Today's recession is the most severe in decades. Unemployment nears 10 percent. We have too much national debt.

A gathering storm threatens the technological edge that has given Americans only about 5 percent of the world's people a remarkable standard of living that comes from producing 25 percent of the world's wealth. The sting remains from last year's oil prices. We rely too much on other countries for our energy. There is the unfinished job of cleaning our air. And, for many, the global warming of the planet has become an urgent concern It is against this backdrop that, for the first time ever, legislation dealing broadly with energy and THE GOOD NEWS Soul searching needed CRIME PREVENTION CORNER Walking is privilege, don't disrespect others who can't By Officer David Cole Top of the morning to all of you fine and wonderful folks out there and I hope and pray you are all just as happy as can be.

A young lady wanted me to write an article in reference to handicap placards and I thought I would try and do that today. Her biggest complaint concerned folks who have the placards, use them and then leave them hanging on the mirror while they are driving. This is illegal to do. On the bottom of the tag it states, "Disabled Parking Identification REMOVE PLACARD WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION." There is also an expiration date on the placards as well. They generally expire every two years and it should be written on the placard.

The placard is issued under authority of Tennessee Code Annotated, section 55-21-103. It is also a violation for any person to park a motor vehicle so that a portion of the vehicle encroaches into a disabled parking space in a manner that restricts, or reasonably could restrict a person confined to a wheelchair from exiting or entering a motor vehicle properly parked within the disabled parking space. In other words, give these deserving folks a bit of room. I have friends that are in wheelchairs. For them, getting in and out of a vehicle is a chore especially if there is another vehicle too close.

climate change is coming out of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Senate is also moving ahead on both issues. The decisions Congress makes will affect our well-being for years to come. The House has chosen the high-cost solution to clean energy and climate change.

Its economy-wide, cap-and-trade and renewable energy mandate is a job-killing, 100-billion-dollar-a-year national energy tax that will basically add a new utility bill to -r It is also a huge violation with a big fine to park in a handicap parking space without handicapped tag or placard. I have given several folks over the years tickets for doing this. "I was only in there for just a minute" or "I was in a hurry" are some of the many different excuses. It is not even funny. It does not matter what excuse you use, you are not supposed to do it at all.

I consider it an awesome privilege to be able to walk from a parking space to the store. I park far away from the store to get some exercise, which I need dearly. It is a slap in the face to the folks who HAVE to use the handicap spaces but can't because a non-handicapped person has parked there. An older gentleman who has a handicap placard said something to one of those folks and the person cussed him out and took off. No sense in this.

If God gave you the blessing of being able to walk, use it. He can always take it away. Count your blessings every day. Take care and God bless. David Cole is the Dickson Police Department crime prevention officer Phil Hall Electric HISCALLInc.

Reynolds, Potter, Ragan, and Vandivort Tennsco Work Greer, CPA's Silver sponsor Dickson Pediatric Dentistry Horizon Volunteers MetLife Middle Tennessee Lumber Traditions Bank TriStar Bank Neida Witherspoon Once again the people of Dickson County showed their generous spirit and their priority of caring for others. Chairwomen Betty Weaver Mary Littleton By Mary Wright and Shirley Sanders Hello everyone Mary and Shirley here to present to you the news as it occurs in the Dickson community. Community Dear friends, We are approaching a critical era and need to really do some soul searching for our actions. So much is put on self and self indulges whether it's politics, churches, jobs positions, and it shows in our personalities and actions. We are forgetting that the end result is what we accomplish for mankind and the sacrifice, if overlooked, may be too great for us to bear.

Being ahead or in charge is not always the correct goal Doing what is right is the thing to do. Please, let's work together for the good of mankind and the future of our youth. Let's build up, not tear down Churches A basketball playoff was held June 25 at Dickson Housing Authority. Everyone who loves to play or watch the game should make it a point to go or participate in the next event. Sponsored by New Hope Church.

Pastor Matthew Lester and his wife, Assistant Pastor Vera Lester, celebrated his 22nd Anniversary as pastor of New Hope on July the 12 with guest speakers Pastor Kirkland of Clarksville and Elder James Satterfield of Greater Faith Fellowship Church of God. New Hope will be taking the youth to Nashville Shores on Saturday. If you want your youth to go, call (615) 446-3455. Youth Day at New Hope will be the Sunday. Guest speaker will be Ms.

Alicia of Stone Chapel. Usher Board Annual Day is Aug. 2 with speaker Pastor DeBerry and church family of Mt. Olive in Waverly. Musician Appreciation Day is Aug.

9 with guest St. Luke Church of Nashville. NHP Annual Day is Aug. 16th with speaker Pastor Davis of Neptune. Family and Friends Day will be Aug.

23 with speaker Pastor Williams of St. Paul Oakwood, in this era corner, just seek and you will find. Military Lt. Dearon Lee Mayberry (Navy) of Dickson who is stationed in Norfolk, Va. husband of Lt.

Tiffany E. Mayberry (Navy) and father of three children will be deployed for the third tour to Iran Maybery is the son of Jerry and Loretta Mayberry of Hickman County. Lt. Mayberry will be on the ship Enterprise. Continuous prayers for all our service men and women May God forever stand by them with his love.

Special events Ms. Lottie Blunt who works for the Guardian Home Care System said she can speak at your club events and give information about their service. The staff is made up of really good, informative speakers. Sick and shut-ins To all the special people that are having a difficult time with their health, prayers are sent out to help you cope, and may God bless and keep you and ease the situation. Condolences Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the Jackson family for their, and our, loss of Dr.

Robert Jackson The community has lost a very dedicated man of medicine and his return to Dickson to serve the community will not be forgotten by many. God bless and be with you always. Our prayers are sincere and from the heart. Concerns There remains great concern about the gun law that passed. It is truly in the best interest if that law is amended.

Everyone qualified should be able to bear arms, but not at random and concealed in parks and establishments that are meant for entertainment with our families. Contact wright2151comcast.net or wright6421yahoo.com or by calling 441-3182 or e-mail kennesande6bellsouth.net or call 441-1353 to reach Shirley Sanders. State Representative David Shepard, 25 Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243-0244 (615) 741-3513 Web site: legislature. state.tn. ushouse membersh69.htm Term.

At Worley on July 25 at 6 p.m. there will be a program presented by Mr. Maurice C. Adams, founder of YTC. The presentation will include Pastor Empress Bolton, Pastor Rainbury and Pastor Beck and a special appearance by "Bishop 2Much." The theme: "Let us go back to the old-time way." Don't miss this special presentation.

You will surly be entertained and rejoiced. Dignitaries Remember some of our locals are ninning for office in Dickson County and at the State level. Check out their performance record and vote, for we need to really get the ones in office that is for the people. Special events Our own Ms. Shirley Rae Sanders will celebrate a birthday.

Happy Birthday from all to a very nice lady. Girl, you didn't tell us your age, or did you forget on purpose. Ha, ha! Don't forget to mark your calendar for Aug. 20 when the Hampton High 31st Annual Reunion and Classic Scholarship Banquet will be held at 6 p.m at the Tenneco Community Center building in Dickson Youths School will soon open it doors for our youth and we wish them all smooth sailing in their studies and especially for those in their senior year. Strive to be all you can be for life is shorter than one think, make the most of every day, yes there is a tomorrow and you represent the future.

The saying goes you can make it if you only try, so try, try, try and don't forget to ask for assistance for your needs. There is help around the I State Senator Doug Jackson, 6A Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243-0025 (615) 741-4499 Web site: legislature. state.tn.ussenatem emberss25.htm LETTER TO THE EDITOR Relay For Life thanks participants CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES To the editor: The 2009 Relay for Life committee wishes to thank everyone in Dickson County who helped raise $162,000. Thanks also go the businesses that sponsored teams and bought ads in the program. I want to give a special thank to the following for being a major event sponsors: Gold Sponsor Tri Star Health The Sarah Cannon Cancer Center Platinum Sponsor Thomas Beasley Benefits, Inc C.H.A.S.E., Inc.

C.K. Pruett Construction Dickson Apothecary Dickson Medical Equipment Charles Hampton U.S. Representative John Tanner, 1226 Longworth HOB, Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-4714 Fax (202) 225-1765 Web site: house.govtanner Toil-Free Hotline: (615) 441-2030 OUR LETTERS POLICY The Dickson Herald welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must not exceed 400 words and may be edited for clarity and space. All letters must include the author's name, address, telephone number for verification purposes.

Letters will not be returned. MAIL: P.O. Box 587., Dickson, Tenn. 37056, FAX: 446-5560, E-MAIL: dhnewsmtcngroup.com. SUBMIT A GUEST COLUMN The Dickson Herald also welcomes guest columns from readers.

If there is a topic you would like to comment on which requires more space than a Letter to the Editor, please contact the Herald editor, Chris Gadd at 560-2202 or by e-mail to cgaddmtcngroup.com..