Letters

Col. Dixie feedback

To the editor:

Elizabeth Smith Leverett was my grandfather’s first cousin and they were very close. I was only 9 years old when she was killed but I remember how difficult it was for her family. Your article (Lagniappe 7/2/08-7/15/08) was extremely well written and I know that my family appreciates Elizabeth’s memory, and her senseless murder being kept fresh in people’s minds. I hope people who read this who are in an abusive relationship like Liz was know there are options they can take and places they and their family can go for safety.

The entire time my grandmother was reading the article she kept saying how beautiful Liz was and what a horrible waste her death was. I would be interested in reading any additional information you may have found on her murder. It is difficult to find information on events that happened before the digital age we live in now.

Once again, I would like to comment on how well written the article was and thank the Lagniappe for publishing it. There were sections that were difficult to read, but I hope those sections are the ones that people who may be in the same position Liz was in pay close attention to.

Travis Greene

Mobile

Kevin:

Great Article! Bob Eddy is one of my dearest friends, and I will never forget he told me that story shortly after we first met years ago. It was like the first time you see a scary movie as a kid; I could feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

It probably took me a week before I could go to sleep at night without thinking about how horrifying it was for Liz to know that she was about to be brutally murdered and that her children would be left in the care and custody (at least temporarily) of the heartless bastard who ordered her murder.

That was a difficult story to condense into one article. You did a great job.

David A. McDonald

Mr. Lee:

I enjoyed reading your article about Paul Leverett. The red spots on the cover look like peppers. But the issue was the best issue of Lagniappe I have ever read.

Your article was especially gripping and readable. As soon as the children go to bed tonight I intend to read the whole issue.

Lee Roe

Well-fed conchs?

To the editor:

Ben Raines’s recent articles in the Mobile Press Register highlighted many problems facing Gulf barrier islands. There is another associated problem that is closer to home, the so-called “Katrina Cut” in Dauphin Island.

Since that storm, millions and millions of public and private dollars have been made available to fund the recovery efforts. An oyster reef restoration program is part of this effort. Unfortunately, the salinity level in the major oyster producing area, largely due to Gulf waters coming through this cut, are conductive to the growth of conchs or “oyster drills” that feed on the oysters. Our tax dollars are being spent to plant culch materials to grow oysters in a very hostile environment. The only benefit from this expenditure is well-fed conchs!

A better way to address this issue would be to first stop the salt water intrusion by first closing the cut so that the oysters would have a fighting chance.

When I suggested this action to the resource managers, they informed me that public funds couldn’t be used to improve private property. If that is the case, I guess the thousands of homes and businesses that have been rebuilt or replaced since the storm must all belong to the government. I don’t think so!

If it is important for Congress to provide funding to restore oyster beds, then it seems to me that due diligence would demand that the resource managers make the reef environment as receptive as possible for oyster culture. Farmers prepare their fields before they plant their crops, should we expect less for our oyster reefs?

Another public benefit from closing the cut would be the restoration of the barrier island protection for Bayou La Batre and other areas still struggling with Katrina recovery. The property owners did not dig the cut and they should not be a factor in the decision to take positive action. We cannot continue wasting money putting seeds where they can not survive when there is a better option available.

Pete Barber

Executive Director

Alabama Seafood Association

Archives