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In My Humble Opinion
Jodi McDade
It’s hard to realize we are already halfway through the first month of 2025. The time has flown with so many things going on around the world, as well as here at home.
I missed last week’s paper because I was on our first adventure of the year. We crossed off another national park (St. John’s, American Virgin Islands), saw a lift-off at Kennedy Space Center, went to another rain forest, and rubbed on and was rubbed by a sea lion! Life is good!
So much news has gone on it’s hard to know where to start. On Monday we will see the inauguration of President Donald Trump and his new administration with a program of AMERICAN’S FIRST. We will also say good-bye to the Biden/Harris administration and their ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FIRST programs.
We will see a return to law and order, border security and common sense. I still have a hard time understanding why so many people living in Democratic-controlled cities and states don’t realize why they are experiencing so many horrible situations – crime, poverty, no jobs, crumbling infrastructure. It’s clear you get what you vote for.
With the disastrous situation we are seeing in California as a large area of the state is burning down, I want to call out our amazing Alabama Forestry Commission – and especially the wonderful folks we have here in Coosa County. I’m not going to name names because I would leave people out, so all of you know who you are!
We do not face major wildfires because the AFC and other agencies practice controlled burns to clear out the undergrowth where fires can start. They have the equipment that is needed, the employees who know what to do and the wonderful volunteer fire departments who provide backup to AFC.
The AFC, under the leadership of State Forester Rick Oates, is visible all over the state preventing situations that could very well get out of control like we are seeing in California. If we see major fires here, they are usually started by arson or human error – not by natural causes.
I’ll use our wonderful Flagg Mountain in the Weogufka State Forest as an example. In the last several years the AFC has come in and done many controlled burns to clear the forest floors. IF there should be a fire, the fuel for it to spread is no longer an issue and it can be brought under control much easier.
I love living in the woods of Coosa County, driving along our roads and seeing the gorgeous scenery we have here. After watching the devastation in California for more than a week it’s just mind boggling to think about not being prepared for fires that are annual events out there. No water, not much equipment (they sent theirs to Ukraine!), not calling in or welcoming firefighters from other states who offered assistance (but Mexico and Canada have sent help), and virtually no leadership at the government level. There have been many people leaving California because of the high taxes and politics, but I’m now wondering how many of these families who have lost everything will decide to relocate to other states.
It’s going to be difficult listening to all the grand promises from the state and federal governments about how they are going to help all these people in California. We have people all over the Southeast who are still trying to recover from Hurricane Helene. Many still have no homes, are living in tents with no heat and are now experiencing snowstorms!
Instead of providing free services to millions of illegal immigrants our tax dollars should be going to Americans who have experienced these disasters. We should not be providing free education, health care and housing to anyone except American citizens or legal immigrants who have entered our country by the correct methods. We are living life upside down.
So, back to the Alabama Forestry Commission, volunteer fire departments and others who go out to fight fires in our area. If you see them out and about, please take a moment and thank them for what they do. If you see them fighting a fire, don’t get in their way – but maybe take them some water or snacks. Unlike California, we can sleep at night and go about our days knowing we have people who will step in when needed.
God bless!
