To the Editor:

It’s time to move on, Franklin! On Nov. 9, 2009, former City of Franklin Police Officer Ronnie McClenny stood before the Franklin City Council and announced that he was resigning from the Police Department, yet here we are over a year later still listening to him whine about the same issues over and over. It’s time to let it go and move on with more pertinent city issues.

The International Paper mill announced that it was closing its doors on Oct. 22, 2009, ending the employment of 1,100 residents of Franklin and the surrounding communities. Somehow, they have all managed to pull themselves up and move on with their lives. Why are we still listening to one man’s tirade?

It’s time to put the focus of the pages of The Tidewater News to more important issues, like boosting the economy, supporting small businesses and shopping locally for the holidays, participating in local fundraising events, or volunteering our time to needy causes.

It’s a shame that businesses are purchasing advertising space in our local paper, which supports Mr. McClenny’s repetitive chants. He filed a lawsuit to sue the city. He had his day in court and he lost.

Mr. McClenny wants to continue to analyze Judge Theodore Burr’s comments, but when Judge Burr ultimately smacked his gavel, the city won the lawsuit.

Some 1,100 people lost their jobs last October without any say or choice. Mr. McClenny chose to leave his position. Let it go!

Marianne Turner
Franklin