Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor and folks in Jenkins County:

I'm feeling very angry and very sad. When I went for my appointment at Ogeechee Mental Health on Jan. 2, the information of its being closed on Jan. 31, 2007 was posted on the door.

Do people not realize how beneficial this service is to Jenkins County? Some consumers have a choice to travel to Sylvania, Waynesboro or Swainsboro. What about the consumers who are unable, for various reasons, to do this? What about the youth in our school system?

I encourage those who read this to contact our governor, Sonny Perdue, at the following address: Sonny Perdue, Governor State of Georgia, State Capitol, Atlanta, Georgia 30334, by phone at 404-656-1776, or online at www.georgia.gov.

It's my opinion that our governor has his priorities in the wrong place. I am told that the funding is being put in our prison system to build larger prisons because the mentally ill are being put in prison rather than declaring them as such and getting them treatment. What about helping people before they make poor choices and are sent to prison?

We all have stresses; that's part of life. What about those of us who need help in dealing with those stresses and choose to get help?

Another factor in the decision to close this Jenkins County facility: the building that houses it is owned by the county and is in need of repairs. Instead, requests have been ignored and the rent has been raised. Lord, have mercy.

Sincerely, Dolores Waters