Submitted PhotoDivine 9 sororities in Meridian are encouraging voter participation on Election Day.

Better sites than Bonita for museum

The City Council voted last week to grant a private museum group the use of 4, 6 or 13 acres of publically owned property at Bonita Lakes Park. This property is used as an urban park and nature preserve enjoyed by any and all Meridian citizens.

The developers stated they had considered several sites and the Bonita site was the best and met all their needs. This is only the latest and apparently most successful attempt by private developers to obtain public property at Bonita. Every private commercial developer in the area would love to gain access to this beautiful and up until now “protected “property.

The problem is not a children’s museum. Few would oppose a new museum dedicated to children. The problem is locating the museum at Bonita Lakes Park. This park is open to all and is used by countless people in the area for walking, hiking, trail riding, fishing, picnicking, special events, family reunions, business events, road and trail races, and just enjoying the serenity of a natural and beautiful landscape. Don’t forget the two children’s playgrounds. Bonita Lakes Park deserves to be protected and preserved.

This is an issue that will affect the quality of life and economic development in our area for years. Not only is Bonita Lakes Park, a recreational gem, but it also serves as a magnet for commercial development in our city. Bonita Lakes Mall, Crossroads Center, the hotels and restaurants, Sam’s, all these and more liked the location “near” the Park. There has always been commercial and political pressure to develop the park itself. Until now, leaders in our community have wisely said no to commercial development of the park.

Perhaps the most important argument for reversing this decision is the precedent it will set. How does the council say no to the next developer who wants a piece of the park. The museum developer’s know this and are asking for additional property adjacent to the building site as a buffer zone. They realize that once the park is parceled then it’s just a matter of time before other popular and worthwhile projects will come and the council will have no standing to deny them.

If you care about Bonita Lakes Park and the many benefits it brings to Meridian then I urge you to let your elected officials know how you feel. And if you are an elected official I urge you to reconsider this decision. Drive out to the park. Get out of your car and walk around. Enjoy the quiet natural beauty. Consider the true value of a place like this for our community. Cities all over Mississippi would love to have an asset like we have. Let’s don’t let it slip away, one good project at a time.

Duffee Williams 

Meridian

Divine 9 gets out the vote

I would like to provide some insight to the Divine 9 and our collaboration in the Meridian Area to encourage voter participation.

Divine 9 organizations include 9 Greek letter organizations (the organizations with asterisks are active in the Meridian Area):

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity *

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority*

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity *

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity *

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority*

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity*

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority*

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority

Iota Phi Theta Fraternity

All Divine 9 organizations are Christian based, community service organizations. We have collaborated on area voter registration drives and have sponsored a digital billboard on highway 39/45 bypass. The graphic on the attached image is the same as the billboard. We are encouraging our community and local area to vote on Election Day, Nov. 8. We are nonpartisan and seek to increase voter turnout and voter participation.

The right to vote is a privilege, many have gone before and died for this privilege and right. We feel that citizens should exercise the right to vote with EVERY election that we are given the opportunity to participate and vote.

Veronica Johnson,

VP, Meridian Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Election letters deadline

EDITOR’S NOTE: Election-related letters to the editor must be received by Thursday so they may be printed no later than the Sunday, Nov. 6 edition of The Meridian Star.