I applaud the city of McComb’s new efforts to get the lead out of our water pipes. Studies have shown the serious consequences of lead poisoning. I only hope that the grant money involved will actually pay for new water pipes and not some local politician’s new swimming pool.
I have to say, though, that I’m surprised to read that this will not touch the main water lines that are clearly decaying and creating ever-growing sinkholes around the city. I don’t know how much asphalt the ground can absorb, but that spot on Northwest Street near Walgreens must be solid pavement all the way to the broken water line.
Speaking of lead, how about local officials start doing something to stop the lead that’s constantly being fired into our youth and children? Or do they need to apply for a grant?
— Bruce Bridges, McComb
Real-life stories of ‘Best Friends Forever’
I just started reading a new book, “Best Friends Forever: Me and My Dog.”
I have a couple of very interesting stories to tell you about two very interesting dogs, Betsy and Austin, who are the center of my life and that I love dearly.
About 11 years ago, I volunteered at the PALS animal shelter. A man walked up carrying a little white dog. It was soaking wet and we could see that her coat was covered with burns and tangles, and that she was scared to death. The man said he found the dog and brought her to us.
We took her in and tried to remove the burns and get the tangles out, but we wound up having to shave off all of her fur. She looked absolutely pitiful.
Then we ran into another problem. The dog wouldn’t eat. She would just lie in her cage, and we couldn’t figure out what could be wrong.
A couple of days later, one of the volunteers had the dog outside on a leash, and she kept going to the gate. The dog led the volunteer through the woods to an abandoned house, where there were three little white puppies. The people had moved out and left Betsy and her babies to starve.
My next story is about my precious Austin. It seems someone had tied Austin up in a plastic bag and thrown him out near the animal shelter. But that wasn’t the worst of it. Whoever did that had burned him all over with a lit cigarette.
It’s a miracle these little ones can bounce back from horrors such as these and become precious, loving members of our families. One of my favorite sayings is, “Ain’t God good?” Of course he is; he’s God!
— Debbie Touchstone, Jayess
