Negative publicity has a way of changing
one's tune.
An update from
yesterday: First, the Kanawha County school board
didn't have to defend itself in a case over a student's free speech. Now, it does, again.
The student's lawyer dropped the case. Then he changed his mind. He says it's too
important to walk away from.
Katie Sierra said the first amendment
gave her the right to start an anarchy club at school. The school board disagreed. Then
she sued. Her lawyer dropped the case earlier this week when Sierra said she may not
be in West Virginia during the trial. Now Sierra's mother and her lawyer decided they'll
continue with the case even if Katie isn't there.
School board lawyers estimate they've
spent at least 300 hours preparing to defend the case. The cost to taxpayers right now
is around $75,000. Even though the trial will cost more money, school board lawyers say
it's important. Their clients want closure.
The ACLU will pay some of the costs
for Sierra's lawsuit. Her lawyer is representing her free of charge. Those who work and
live in Kanawha County have to pay for this crap.
Seventy five thousand dollars, that's
how much taxpayers spent on a lawsuit over the right to start an anarchy club in
Kanawha County, WV schools.
Last fall I
told you the story of Katie Sierra, a teen who filed suit in circuit court after her
principal prohibited her from wearing a T-shirt with anarchy symbols and anti-war
messages.
Now, just a month before trial, she dropped
the case.
All that time equals more than $75,000 ...
money one school board member says taxpayers shouldn't have to pay. "I'm just glad it's
over because it's been a terrible waste of resources."
Lawyers say the money was an investment
for the future. These attorneys for the County Board of Education have spent more than
300 hours preparing to defend the case.
So after all this time, why did Sierra
drop the case?
Her lawyer says she wants to travel this
summer. School board lawyers say they may consider trying to get Sierra's parents
to pay for attorney's fees and court costs.
I know. I should probably leave well
enough alone.
But I can't help it. When I see stuff
that doesn't make sense I have to wonder why. I bet you do too sometimes.
While out driving around my new hometown
this afternoon, I kept happening upon perplexing signs. So ... I created a little
photographic essay to show you why I was confused.
Perhaps you can 'splain some of this
signage to me.
The first sign is
straightfoward enough. Go look for yourself. It marks the entrance to
Britton Creek Apartments.
Instead ... just another 50 feet down
the street you will find this sign on the
bridge.
A little while later, driving down a
country road, another sign made me do a double take. Did that say what I thought?
Upon closer examination, I looked behind me to see if
Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor would doe-si-doe by.
I knew I had left Hendersonville for
good and entered that Twilight Zone known as Hooterville when
this sign appeared over the next rise.
When I started seeing guys in fatigues
with big chaws o' terbacky in their cheeks, I knew I was headed into no man's land.
I looked for the first place to turn around and high tail it back to town. Wouldn't
you know this is what I'd find.
Finally I got back to my neighborhood.
I took a deep breath and knew I was safe from the evil signs. Just to maintain my
sanity, I took one last photo of the sign that maps The
Oaks.
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