Editorial: Fort Benning and Stewart County - WTVM.com-Columbus, GA News Weather & Sports

Editorial: Fort Benning and Stewart County

  • NEWS

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:11 PM EDT2013-05-22 03:11:48 GMT
    After much debate and a unanimously vote from the board edgewood elementary and Marshall middle schools will close their doors for the final time next Friday. But what happens after next week?    "There
    After much debate and a unanimously vote from the board edgewood elementary and Marshall middle schools will close their doors for the final time next Friday. But what happens after next week?    "There

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 2:01 AM EDT2013-05-22 06:01:02 GMT
    AT&T is taking several steps to assist those in need in Moore and the Oklahoma City area after the community was struck by a tornado Monday.
    AT&T is taking several steps to assist those in need in Moore and the Oklahoma City area after the community was struck by a tornado Monday.

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 1:30 AM EDT2013-05-22 05:30:09 GMT
    As millions of Americans focus their attention on the devastation in Oklahoma, many will feel compelled to reach out and help. But sometimes, in massive recovery efforts, people's good intentions can turn
    As millions of Americans focus their attention on the devastation in Oklahoma, many will feel compelled to reach out and help.

    But sometimes, in massive recovery efforts, people's good intentions can turn into a burden for workers in the trenches.
    •   

EDITORIAL: The people of Stewart County might be among the few to appreciate the federal budget crisis we are now in.

It is a major reason why the possible massive land takeover in Stewart County is now on hold and perhaps dead forever.

The issue centers around a prime piece of land for the army's expansion of Fort Benning.

Fort Benning currently is 182,000 acres and one proposal has been to take a huge land-area of 82,000 acres of Stewart County.

The lost tax revenue for the county, if the federal government took the land is a million dollars a year.

With all the trillions of deficit-dollars thrown around in Washington, D.C. one million dollars does not seem like much.

But to a small-populated area like Stewart County it means the difference between subsisting and devastation to the schools and county services.

But because of the impending massive cuts in the federal budget and objections from local community leaders and residents, the day of reckoning has been put off until next year and perhaps killed forever.

General Manager Lee Brantley brings two editorials a week to WTVM.  If you would like to respond to an editorial, write to:

WTVM Editorial Committee
1909 Wynnton Road
Columbus, GA 31906

or e-mail your response to WTVM Editorial Committee.