Dear Editor:

  The article by Joe Guy was of real interest to me.  Return Jonathan Meigs is one of my Distant Grand Parents.  I am the eighth generation down from him.  I have been to his grave twice in Rhea County.  I descend through his youngest son, Timothy Meigs, who died before him and is buried there in the family plot.

Thanks,
Paul Trew

Dear Editor,

Please help me out again…A few months ago you printed a letter about our Polk County’s Miss Polly Morgan not having a marker. June 8th was Homecoming Day at Morgan Cemetery where Miss Polly rests. Well praise the Lord thanks to you, she has a marker.

Thanks again,
Ruth Rymer

Dear Editor,

I would like to thank everyone who has traveled Old Federal Road to Cookson Creek Road at the time I have been moving farm equipment from on place to the other. I appreciate everyone that was on the road at this time showing patience. I know it must have been an inconvenience  to them for having to follow a Tractor on Hwy. 64, Old Federal Rd. and Cookson Creek Rd. especially at this time of year. I truly appreciate your understanding of a farmer.

Thanks again,
Jimmy “Bo” Milen
Old Fort, TN

Dear Editor,

On June 13, I lost a big brother.

No . . . not a sibling, but a brother in my world of experiences and passions.  Tim Russert has been a mainstay of my political savvy, a teacher and mentor of my understanding of how America works.  Whenever I was confused by the tremors and temblors in Congress and the Presidency, I sought out his explanations and his critical views.  He truly helped me understand.

Though I am a liberal . . . and though he was a liberal in his personal thinking . . . I was always impressed with the way he hit hard on those of “like thinking” and was yet generous when interviewing those of positions with which he personally disagreed.

Tim Russert inspired me.  And I envied him.  We were the same age and yet he seemed a big brother.  I have been a passionate viewer and fan of “Meet the Press” since he first sat in that seat and always felt he outshined his Sunday morning competitors.  He did things with the show that were undeniably new and nonconformist, yet he kept this NBC institution true to its foundation.

Some years ago, I told a friend that -- as a trained journalist and a lifelong Democrat party junkie -- I aspired to be a Tim Russert, Jr.  Tim’s love of country, his passion for “all-things political”, his desire to examine the facts and determine the truth, and his ability to mete it all out so that “Mr. Common Man” would get it are but a testament to a rare and uncommon man.

I will miss Mr. Russert.  He ranks along Thomas Jefferson with his passion for America.

David Larson
McCaysville

Dear Editor,

Corridor K is supposed justification is improving travel between Chattanooga and Asheville and to eastern sea ports. Major construction remains in the Ocoee River Gorge and around U.S. Highway 19 in the Nantahala Gorge where the new highway would add 4.84 miles while traversing 2,960 foot long tunnels with 4.54 miles of 6% slope roadway at Stecoah Gap and 5,395 foot tunnels and 6.82 miles of 8% grade (much steeper than Monteagle’s I-24) approaches out of the Snowbird Valley between Robbinsville and Andrews. The Snowbird Indians living in this secluded area eluded Removal in 1838 and still keep native language and many old customs.

The 5,000 foot high eastern crests of the Appalachians are between Franklin, NC and Ashveville and Charlotte and prevent U.S. Highway 64 (or any other route) from being made into a commercial east-west road. Corridor K only connects to Waynesville, North Carolina on I-40 from Knoxville.

Billions can be spent completing Corridor K, but travelers from Chattanooga, Cleveland and Benton will almost always arrive in Asheville quicker by taking I-75 to Knoxville. Imports from Savannah, Georgia and Charlestown, South Carolina would continue coming to southeast Tennessee through Dalton and by I-26 to Asheville and I-40 to Knoxville.

Respectfully,
Kirk Johnson