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Letters to the Editor

Danen Clarke's smile friend's last memory

This is Brock Gardner, one of the boys that was with [Danen Clarke] in his last moments. I just wanted to thank you for writing the article about him. It means so much to me and the things that were said were understatement.

I only wish that you were fortunate enough to meet him. You should have seen how happy he was that night.

I have been best friends with him since I was 5 or 6, and that night was the happiest I had seen him since I met him.

While we were out there, I never saw that big, wonderful Danen Clarke smile come off his face until he fell under and called for help.

I wish I could explain the joy and happiness that I saw in his smile and in his eyes. I had always thought of him as being invincible and that if I had any problem at all, that if anyone could fix it, it would be Danen.

That is why when me and the other boy could not find the first boy that went in, we called to Danen to help us.

I looked at him as being invincible and that nothing could ever harm him. Danen and I even made a club called the "Classics." We made it because we knew that if we were alone we would never push ourselves to do some of the things that we had accomplished, but together we made each other who we are.

I do not know why I have told you this, but I just wanted to thank you for the article and it means the world to me.

It hurt to see that the mayor did not show sympathy and basically blame the whole ordeal on us. Thanks again and hope you have a great day.

Brock Gardner

MOWRY55(at)aol.com

Tactless PTC mayor resembles Chirac

It appears that Peachtree City has our own Jacques Chirac in Mayor Steve Brown.

The tragic death of Danen Clarke evoked much sadness and disbelief among those who knew him. I did not, even though my heart went out to them and of course his family as I listened to the litany of praise from his friends.

His accomplishments speak for themselves. Then on the same evening news and the next day in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution our mayor felt it necessary to comment, "He should have known better."

What compassion.

Mayor Brown, I hope you know better than to count on a vote from me.

Phil Heise

Peachtree City, Ga.

Remember Clarke died helping friend

Danen Clarke accomplished what he was to do in life and now he gets to go to Heaven and play. The rest of us still have things to do on our "To Do List".

Danen died playing with the father he loved, who showed him how to be an exceptional person and with friends who understood they soon would be going in separate directions.

No one knew how soon Danen would be leaving.

He died trying to help a friend and in doing so, he taught many in our community about the danger of the unseen power of moving water.

He died giving to others. What a glorious end to a gloriously wonderful life.

We should all be so lucky.

Feel sorry for those who never got to cross paths in life with Danen or the Clarkes. They are the unlucky ones.

Kathie Cheney

Peachtree City, Ga.

Somebody fix this stopped-up ditch

Take a look at the drainage ditch on the southside of the Chick-Fil-A parking lot between the Chick-Fil-A and Ramah Road on the southside of Fayetteville.

This ditch has not been cleaned out for two years. The water pools there and has become a grand breeding ground for mosquitoes. No one seems to notice it.

I walk by the ditch during my daily exercise routine and am amazed that this condition exists.

Richard Carson

Fayetteville, Ga.

D.A. Ballard honors rule of law, tells the truth

I don't know this fellow Mulholland you say is a south Georgia district attorney. I guess he's important, though, since you ran a lead story stating some anonymous official in his office had been shocked and stunned some two weeks earlier.

I hope the anonymous official recovered as it now appears Mr. Mulholland is also shocked and stunned, or is a little colicky and might need some help. I rush to his aid.

Mr. M., Scott Ballard is new at his job, despite 20 years practice, and may not have read your slant on jurisprudence.

I'm sure he didn't know he was not to appear in his private capacity as a witness when so ordered by a subpoena.

When subpoenaed by the defendant, it likely never occurred to him he ought to call and clear his testimony through you, or that a witness who is also a district attorney is not required like other witnesses to tell the truth under oath as known to him. Scott probably didn't learn rules like that.

I surely hope anybody who is shocked or stunned that Scott Ballard honors the rule of law, obeys processes of the court and tells the truth under oath will get over it, as it appears Scott's integrity is solid.

About that colic, Mr. M., see a gastroenterologist, as at your age an inverted swat on the backside may not work. If your doctor can get your alimentary canal to working right, he may also advise that the newsprint you employ in the outhouse doesn't have to have your name in it.

Charles T. Ballard

Fayetteville, Ga.

Long-time Fayetteville attorney Charles Ballard is the father of Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Scott Ballard.

Could it be that the DA knew the facts of case?

I commend Scott Ballard for standing up for his beliefs. He allows his conscience and God to guide his actions, not the opinions of uniformed persons with their own political agendas.

How many of the people who are criticizing him took the time to research the original child molestation case?

Oh, I forgot, if you are convicted of a crime, you must be as bad a person as any other convict.

I definitely do not condone child abuse, neglect, and especially molestation. However, I know Scott Ballard to be a man of strong faith and one of the most honest men I have ever met.

Could it be that he knew a little more about the Jeffrey David Allen case than the rest of us?

To drive over 400 miles in his personal car, knowing he was going to face ridicule for his actions when he returned, shows me a man with true character.

To the person that wrote in a previous Free Speech column, "I guess you feel obligated to protect molesters as I have come to learn that as a trial lawyer your law practice had a history of getting these guys off": I am sure you "have come to learn" this information through proper research and not in the barber chair.

Scott Ballard prepares for trial better than any defense attorney I know in the area.

Maybe you have heard about a document called the United States Constitution and the rights it grants to every person.

There is one little line in there, let's see, oh, I remember: You are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. A court of law, not a court of public opinion.

The prosecution in the cases I assume you researched obviously did not prove the accused guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Now,