Overall, ABC staff is honest, competent

Overall, ABC staff is honest, competent

News coverage has been thorough in reporting the rule violations within the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board and especially the grossly mishandled event in Charlottesville by enforcement agents. As an orchardist, I am permitted to use the cliché: Let’s not let one apple spoil the whole barrel.

For almost 50 years, I have had dealings with the ABC. Forty of those years were owning and operating a convenience store on U.S. 460 west of Bedford. Then, and since the mid-’90s as a winery owner, I have had many occasions to deal with people with ABC by phone, mail, e-mail and in person.

They have always presented themselves with great professionalism. In each exchange, they have been polite, helpful, friendly and well versed in the law and its applications. Don’t misunderstand, I knew if I broke or even bent the law, they would exercise their authority to ensure that I was in compliance.

Their endeavor was always to give honest, friendly and helpful information to ensure that the laws were understood and adhered to.

So let’s not let the negativity generated by recent reports tarnish the reputation, ability and commitment of so many good agents and employees with ABC.

DANNY LEE JOHNSON
BEDFORD

GOP ticket shows due respect for life

I read the letter by Bryan Walker (“GOP’s ticket is far from the mainstream,” July 31), and would like to know where he gets his information.

The candidates have all said that they are in agreement for updating our roads and improving our educational system.

For Walker even to think that a fertilized human egg is not a human being shows he needs to read the Bible and hear what God has to say about this matter. I’ll pray for him and all those who see that an abortion is just a medical procedure, and not the taking of a human life.

SEAN PEEKLER
SALEM

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