Tobacco free has a cost?

The Johnston County Board of Education ponders serious issues regarding education at every meeting it holds. And a few issues cause board members to be at odds with each other on occasion.
One issue in particular looms on the horizon holds explosive potential. It is a proposal to revise the county school’s tobacco policy to reduce the tolerance of tobacco on school grounds. This policy would create a tobacco-free campus, for both students and adults.
The policy is strict. It would include students, teachers, administrators and staff, and even visitors to campus for any reason. And it would prohibit smoking and smokeless tobacco products at any time.
Board member Donna White tried to have a reading of the policy removed from the agenda at the January meeting, a move that was supported by board member Larry Strickland. But board chairman Fred Bartholomew, citing procedure, refused to do it. When the policy was read, Ms. White explained that she believes the ban on tobacco on campus could have far-reaching repercussions. The policy could even anger the public at a time when public support will be needed for another school bond referendum.
She said the policy, as written, would prohibit construction crews from smoking while building a school, since the site was considered school property.
Mr. Strickland said the policy discriminated against dedicated school volunteers who devote time and energy to various school projects because they would not be able to step away and smoke. Parents and supporters who go to basketball games — and are already delegated to go outside into the cold to smoke — would not even be allowed to do that. Teachers who have to stay on campus for several hours a day would have no place to smoke on their breaks.
Mr. Strickland also spoke of receiving a letter of concern which indicated how the policy would put the school at odds with hard-working tobacco farmers who have brought millions upon millions of dollars to Johnston County, paid their taxes and made donations to community causes, such as schools.
The other side of the argument was presented by Kay Carroll, who simply stated that tobacco was a dangerous, unhealthy addiction and to ban it from school property was a positive response that would further provide positive evidence to students that tobacco is not something with which they should get involved. Mr. Carroll cited numerous health reasons for the ban, and said it was a simple matter of keeping the campuses healthy for the students.
Board member Jack O’Hale provided perhaps the best commentary on the issue. He said it boiled down to individual rights versus protecting public health.
“Tobacco is a legal product if you are over 18,” he said. “Drinking alcohol is legal if you are over 21. Owning a gun is legal if you are over a certain age. But we don’t allow drinking on school property and we don’t allow guns on school property.”
I am big on individual rights. I agree with Mr. O’Hale that as long as a person is of legal age, they should be allowed to do what they please.
But Ben Franklin once said that another person’s rights end at the tip of my nose. When your cigarette smoke comes into my nostrils, I am being denied the right to breathe air that is not clogged with carcinogens. Most responsible smokers are mindful of this and try not to offend anyone who does not want to enjoy the smoke with them.
I grew up with cigarettes in my life. My mom and dad both smoked, for decades, and I guess my brothers and sisters and I were fortunate that second-hand smoke did not affect our health. They both gave up smoking later in life. Nowadays my mom has several grandchildren and great-grandchildren — and at least one daughter-in-law — that come over, some of which are sensitive to smoke. So she has banned the smokers of the family to the front porch – not to be punitive, but to be protective.
Usually, cigarette smoke does not bother me. But as a non-smoker, I have the right to go into any business that I wish to patronize. And I do not go into stores or restaurants that allow smokers to light up, because I do not want to smell the emanations. It would be wrong of me to go in there and insist that everyone in there put out the cigarettes. So I choose to not go in there, or leave when I realize I am in that situation.
Some tobacco users may feel singled out and discriminated against by this policy, and in one regard, they are. But the policy is a good step to providing the most healthful learning environment possible, and no one can argue that as being anything but good. The current policy as enforced is a double standard — while students are prohibited from using tobacco, teachers are frequently outside on their breaks smoking. On several occasions I have seen coaches going through their duties with smokeless tobacco or dips in their mouths.
On a personal note, there is nothing nastier to me than a cup or can that has been used as a spittoon. Give me a choice, and I will take an overflowing ashtray any day.
To eliminate tobacco from the campuses is a drastic step, but a positive one. If enacting the policy makes one current smoker even consider kicking the habit, then it will be worthwhile.
Smokers have rights. But they have no more rights than non-smokers.

Welcome to 2007

I am usually not all that psyched up to watch the ball come down in Times Square. I left my party animal days far behind me years ago, so I was not squealing with delight as the acorn fell in Raleigh, or giving a big hip-hooray as the pickle dropped on Mount Olive once again.
But a new year’s dawning is a chance to turn a page, start a new direction and begin a new chapter of life. And I, for one, am ready to get this puppy started.
The new year will mean a lot to me personally, and to the paper professionally.
We are poised on the edge of a new era of reporting for our readers. We are in a new building in Princeton and a newly remodeled building in Fremont. We are working with some of the newest computer programs, equipment and software we have ever had. We have new reporters in place to provide you with all the news that is happening in your communities. We are on the world wide web, and can strike while a story is hot to get the facts to you as soon as possible.
We are taking better photos, writing better stories and giving the readers something other area newspapers cannot – we can let you know what is going on in your neck of the woods. We are not trying to do what other papers do. We are trying to be the best paper there is, and serve our readers in an outstanding fashion.
Sometimes, we do that one mistake at a time. It is the most frustrating thing in the world to work a story for days, get it written, proofed and publish it only to find a mistake or inaccuracy once it is on the pages. It is the kind of gaffe that makes me want to take a lap around the block trying to kick myself in the rear – which might make an interesting photo, now that I think about it.
We do try very hard to keep mistakes and inaccuracies out of the paper. We have instituted more controls to get more eyes scanning the paper before it goes out to make sure fewer and fewer goof-ups make it to the press.
So while I do not do New Year’s resolutions, I do pledge right here and now to make sure the paper is more accurate - not only because we need to, but also because you deserve it as our readers.
Sometime during this upcoming year, our part-time reporter will earn her wings and go full-time. Sarah Wise is nearly through with her studies at Peace College and will be ready to step into the reporter’s role in Princeton full-time with her graduation. We have been very pleased with Sarah’s work, and many of you have stopped by or e-mailed us to let us know that you feel the same. So having more time with Sarah at her desk and on her beat is a good thing for all of us.
Davis Fisher is getting well situated in Fremont and has become a strong reporter in a new environment. Davis is putting in some long hours to work his beat and speak to all the people involved in it. He will become even better-known to the people of northern Wayne and southern Wilson Counties in the coming months.
My own duties as editor are becoming more clear and direct. A lot of that is the result of a difficult process for our publisher, Barry Merrill. Barry has been the chief cook and bottle washer for both papers since he purchased them, and for many years, his duties included pretty much everything that went on. He is in the publisher’s role full-time now, and he has to disentangle himself from some duties in order to focus more successfully on other duties. That can be tougher to do than it sounds. So while you will surely still see him with a notebook at a meeting or with a camera at a sporting event, Barry is now more focused on guiding both newspapers’ growth and development into the future. It’s a big role, and he handles it well.
The new year brings a new face to the Princeton office as Lucy Brower becomes our office manager. She has flung herself into the job, and has already impacted the paper positively by helping to proof the paper and to relieve Barry and me of other daily responsibilities. Many of you will get to know Lucy as you drop by with renewals, ads and notices for publication.
Rosie Colvin is still the rock of our Fremont operation, and she needs no introduction to anyone who has been in the area for more than ten minutes. I will tip my hat to her, however, and acknowledge that most of us around here could not pour our morning coffee without her.
The advertising staff has just completed an awesome year. Debra Malarchik and Jeanette Pigford have done a difficult job (I can’t do it) very well for many months, and it should be noted that we are around putting out a paper in 2007 because they have worked so successfully in 2006. They have established a high standard for the coming year.
And of course, there are many others who insert the paper, distribute it to the racks and newspaper stands, and to the post office. I salute their efforts and recognize their important contributions to the team.
But our most important link - our most vital link – the one we thank most – is you, the customer. We are not here without you. We appreciate the time and effort you put into buying the paper or subscribing to it, and reading it. We have said many times, we cannot do what we do without you. The readers are our lifeblood, and we cannot ever forget that.
I hope in 2007, I can count on more of your comments and suggestions. We take them all seriously.
Among those suggestions, I want each of you to think about a person in your community who deserves recognition for the good works they do, the sunshine they bring to others’ lives, the service they provide to their fellow man. We would like to tell everyone about that person, with our weekly “Just Up The Road” feature. Just call or e-mail us with the person’s name and why you think they should be a featured person in the News Leader.
If your church, school group or civic group is having an event, let us help get the word out. If your professional organization recognized you, we can let everyone know about your accomplishment.
Do you restore cars, old homes, or furniture? They could all have stories attached to them that we would like to tell. Is your neighbor back from a church mission trip or a journey to help someone far away? They might like to tell us of their adventure.
Do you like movies? Would you like to review movies for us, and see a movie for free? Do you have an award-winning recipe you would like to share? Are you getting married or about to celebrate an addition to the family? We want to let all your friends and neighbors know.
We want to spend 2007 doing a good job telling you all about you all. Point us in the right direction, and let us go. We promise you will not be disappointed.
Here’s hoping we can look back this time next year, and say, “2007 – now that was a good year.”